CHP Ford Explorer Interceptor

[Merkava_4]

I saw one of these on the freeway the other night. I had my cruise control set at 65 while the dark black - almost invisible Ford Explorer goes whizzing by me. It looked like it was moving through space and time effortlessly. I guess so at 365 horsepower and 350 foot pounds of torque with all wheel drive.

Car and Driver

 

[daves87rs]

Yep...they can move!

 

[901Memphis]

I had a 2015 Explorer rental earlier this year even with the naturally aspirated 3.5 it felt pretty darn peppy..I'd sure like to get one with the sport package and twin turbos too

 

[Colt45ws]

Don't remind me. I want an Interceptor Utility with the EcoBoost so bad I can taste it.

 

[NHGUY]

Its basically a Taurus wagon,its not your old school body on frame Explorer.Actually these are outselling the PI Taurus model...

 

[OneEyeJack]

I can see why the police like the SUV over the sedan. The rear seat in the sedan is cramped and being back there makes you feel claustrophobic. The car looks, drives and feels big but the inside looks and feels small and cramped. They must have works very hard to pull off a trick like that.

 

[Garak]

Now, is it going to be governed at a ridiculously low top speed like previous Explorers and Tahoes?

 

[Vikas]

Around New England, many states are using Explorer once CV stopped being made.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Now, is it going to be governed at a ridiculously low top speed like previous Explorers and Tahoes?


Considering the unstable nature of the previous Explorers, that is easily understood.

Why you included the Tahoe, doesn't make sense and is incorrect. It has a top speed of 139 with 2 wheel drive.

139... "ridiculously low top speed". Right.

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Around New England, many states are using Explorer once CV stopped being made.


That is all I am seeing now for State and Town/City police now. They must be offering a great price for these things considering how many of them are on the road.

I know the Boston police is a mix now of Explorers and the new Caprices. Those are some snazzy looking police cars.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

These also have some sort of additional cross member / brace for the PI models that can withstand a 70MPH rear end collision without hurting the person in the back seat. Pretty neat stuff.

I do miss the days when all you had to look for was a Crown Vic. Now there's a lot!

The local PD has been moving from a few Chargers to the Explorer PI and Taurus PI. County is moving to Caprice. NYS Troopers are using the Ford products as well it seems.

Even with the new Ford product cruisers, the local PD (city of Syracuse) patrols with white Econoline vans as well.

 

[Vikas]

I was not aware that LEO actually cared about the "passengers sitting in the back of the squad cars!" Don't they knock them out before stuffing them there??

 

[Colt45ws]

Explorer PI is 131mph limit
Taurus PI is 131 limit except with EB engine which has 148 limit. (Opt. for 131 limit with EB engine as well)
There is also the "Police Special" Taurus that isn't Pursuit rated and has a 2.0L EB engine with a limit of 120mph.
One of the main complaints about the Taurus has been the opening of the front doors. Apparently they don't open as wide as one might expect and make it more difficult for cops to get in and out with all the gear on their belt.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
I was not aware that LEO actually cared about the "passengers sitting in the back of the squad cars!" Don't they knock them out before stuffing them there??


There have been law suits against police departments and Ford when a vehicle at freeway speeds hits a parked CV police car with a officer at the wheel or a passenger/prisoner in the back seat. The cars were modified to better protect the passengers and gas tank. It's crazy but true that the court thought the CV should better protect people in such an occurrence. Getting hit while parked by a car going at such speeds I would think would be considered a potentially un-survival accident.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Originally Posted By: Vikas
I was not aware that LEO actually cared about the "passengers sitting in the back of the squad cars!" Don't they knock them out before stuffing them there??


There have been law suits against police departments and Ford when a vehicle at freeway speeds hits a parked CV police car with a officer at the wheel or a passenger/prisoner in the back seat. The cars were modified to better protect the passengers and gas tank. It's crazy but true that the court thought the CV should better protect people in such an occurrence. Getting hit while parked by a car going at such speeds I would think would be considered a potentially un-survival accident.


I fail to see how Ford is at fault for that one. The texting / **xting / rubbernecking driver should be the one at fault.

 

[SlipperyPete]

The issue was people surviving the impact then burning to death because the gas tank caught fire. I don't know if Ford lost any of the lawsuits, but they did make modifications to reduce the risk of fire.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
I can see why the police like the SUV over the sedan. The rear seat in the sedan is cramped and being back there makes you feel claustrophobic. The car looks, drives and feels big but the inside looks and feels small and cramped. They must have works very hard to pull off a trick like that.


It does have a small rear seat given the size. I think it's mainly due to the roofline. I don't get the "small and cramped" feeling in the Taurus. It's nicely segmented. And it is a big car though!