Orders open on Holden's US cop car

Holden's parent company GM is promoting the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle's (PPV) benefits following back-to-back US testing with its current primary competition.

"Police departments around the country told us they needed a modern, high-performance rear-drive pursuit car, says GM Fleet and Commercial Operations product director Joyce Mattman. "These results are proof that the Caprice PPV delivers the performance officers want, without compromising safety or comfort," she says.

Holden remains in a holding pattern, awaiting firm orders for the police-pack version of the brand's Adelaide-built luxury flagship.

GM Holden external communications director Emily Perry says they are optimistic about orders coming in next month.

"We're still waiting for feedback from our US colleagues as to how the fleet drives have gone with the North American police forces," she says. "We would expect to open the order books and start taking orders next month and those vehicles could be made before the end of the year - so as soon as we have more news on that we look forward to sharing it," she says.

Information from the Michigan State Police Evaluation Program results are preliminary, according to GM, with final results set for publication later this year, but the company says the Caprice PPV hit 97km/h (60mph) and 161km/h (100mph) faster than its opposition, as well as recording a higher top speed and shorter stopping distances. The Caprice PPV will be powered by both V6 (to be offered in 2012) and V8 engines, the latter running a six-speed automatic behind the six-litre V8 that produces 265kW and 521Nm.

The Caprice was up against the police specials from Dodge and Ford, although the latter is already headed for the history books.

Dodge is waving the Stars and Stripes every chance it gets with the already-available Charger Pursuit, which boasts a 186kW/340Nm 3.6-litre V6 and 317kW/569Nm 5.7-litre HEMI V8 powerplants, rear-wheel drive and two-mode police-specific electronic stability control.

Ford's once-dominant Crown Victoria Police Interceptor will be replaced towards the end of this year with a Taurus-based all-wheel drive police model, as well as an SUV Police Interceptor based on the new Explorer. Ford's Police Interceptor sedan will be propelled by a two-pronged V6 engine range - one a 196kW/338Nm 3.5-litre V6 engine, the other a new 3.5-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo direct-injection V6 producing more than 272kW and 475Nm of torque to all four wheels. While the Caprice outperformed its immediate rivals, the new Ford police vehicle won't be in production until the end of this year.

Holden's Adelaide plant is taking on an additional 50 staff on 12 month contracts from November as the plant returns to two shifts. The second shift is part of plans to ramp up production of the Cruze from early 2011 - as well as the VE Series II Commodore - but Holden won't elaborate on any plans to expand further on the back of any US orders.