Ford may nab Holden cop car job

Based on the Taurus sedan, Ford's purpose-built 'black and white' Police Interceptor is designed as a pursuit car with a powerful twin-turbo V6 engine and high-performance brakes.

Ford unveiled its high-tech, high performance answer to GM-Holden's Statesman-based police car at a fleet management conference in Detroit. The cabin is designed to withstand high-speed crashes and boasts the latest crime fighting technology.

Both US car giants are vying for a slice of the lucrative law enforcement market in North America. The popular Ford Crown Victoria sedan favoured by most police will be phased out at the end of next year.

"Police nationwide asked for a new kind of weapon in the battle for public safety, and Ford is answering the call with a purpose-built vehicle - engineered and built in America," Ford president of the Americas, Mark Fields, says.

Field's 'buy American' push could strike a cord with US law enforcement agencies. He says the company remains committed to leading the police vehicle market. At present about 70 per cent of North American enforcement agencies use the Crown Victoria. Ford sells about 45,000 a year to police fleets.

US law enforcement agencies are set to put out tenders for a replacement later this year. Ford and General Motors are among several companies angling for the lucrative business. GM-Holden's new chairman and managing director, Mike Devereux, says Holden is still in the race to develop a Chevrolet-based police cruiser for North America.

"Whether we're looking at Chevrolet Caprice police program or whether its exports to Brazil or the Middle East, we will take advantage of any export opportunities we have," he says. GM-Holden joined forces with the National Safety Agency last year to show off a kitted out Caprice to the Los Angeles police department. The car was shown at a crime conference in Denver in October, sparking interest not only in the US but also Canada and the UK.

Up to 40,000 Holden police cars could be exported to the US every year.

Ford's Police Interceptor goes into production later this year. The twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 is more powerful than the current 4.6-litre V8 used in the Crown Victoria. The V6 develops 272kW/495Nm mated to a six-speed automatic and either front or all-wheel drive.