| Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor |
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The Police Interceptor (often referred to simply as '''CVPI''') is the law enforcement version of the 1999 and later Ford Crown Victoria . Though the name has only been officially in use for the car starting in 1999, the current major design of the car has been the same since 1998. The 1979–1991 full-size LTDs and LTD Crown Victorias and 1992 updated body style used the "P72" production code designation for both Fleet /taxi and police models. From 1993–1998, the Police Car models of Crown Victorias were officially known as ''Crown Victoria P71''s. Starting in 1999, the Crown Victoria equipped with the P71 package has been given the official name of Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. It is one of the most widely-used automobiles in North American police departments, and due to the "heavy duty" nature of the vehicle, is also used by many Taxi companies. Since Chevrolet dropped the rear-drive Caprice , Ford has had a near-monopoly on the market for police cruisers because of a preference for V8 powered rear-drive cars in North America. In early 2006 , DaimlerChrysler released a new police version of the Dodge Charger . General Motors also offers the Chevrolet Impala in a police package (named 9C1 and 9C3), albeit only in a V6-powered front-wheel drive form. Although the Police Interceptor is usually not sold to the general public, these cars are widely available in the used car market once they are no longer needed for law enforcement or fleet duty. In compliance with most state laws in the US and provincial laws in Canada, used Police Interceptors are normally stripped of any police decals, radio and computer equipment and emergency lights by law enforcement agencies before being sold or auctioned on the civilian markets in Canada and the United States. DESIGN retrofitted in 2000 Ford Crown Victoria]] The 1998 model year was an upgrade in body styling over the previous 1992–1997 "aero" Crown Victorias. The 1998 police package P71 had a chrome grille, chrome door handle trim, chrome bumper strips and a chrome-trimmed flat black rear fascia with the "Crown Victoria" badge. The changes made in 1999 included a new "Police Interceptor" insignia on the rear fascia, a chrome-trimmed gloss black rear fascia, black door handle trim, black bumper strips and a gloss black slatted grille. For 2000, the rear fascia and taillights lost the chrome trim and the gloss black grille was dropped in favor of a flat black slatted grille. Further refinements were made in 2001, including removal of all trim on the plastic bumper pieces, and a new honeycomb-style grille, replacing the slat-style grille as is found on previous Crown Victorias and CVPIs. 2003 brought a minor redesign. The interior door panels and seats were freshened, with side-impact airbags becoming an option. The 2001–2006 CVPIs all look the same on the exterior; the way to tell the 2003+ cars from the 2001 and 2002 models is the wheels. The suspension, brakes, steering and frame all were re-designed for the 2003 model year. Because of the new underpinnings, the wheels for the newer cars have a much higher offset. The new wheels look almost flat, compared to the concave wheels on the older model years. The 2004–2006 Police Interceptor are rated for 250 hp (186 kW) because of the addition of a new (the flexible rubber hose between the throttle body and MAF outlet) is also used to reduce NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) as well as transfer air from the airbox to the throttle body with minimal flow resistance. One can easily spot the 2005 model year from its rear-fender mounted whip antenna on the passenger side. This is the only year that the 1998+ CVPI had an external AM/FM antenna. Previous years and the 2006 model all have the antenna mounted in the rear glass. Standard on the 2006 is a re-designed instrument cluster which now sports a tachometer and digital odometer, amongst other improvements. Kevlar-lined front doors, which might be useful as protective barriers during gun fights, are optional on the Crown Victoria Police Interceptors for the 2006 Model Year. For 2008, the Crown Victoria is restricted to fleet-only sales, and all Panther platformed cars are now flex-fuel cars. The CVPI receives some interesting new options, such as the ability to have keyless entry. COMPARISON WITH CIVILIAN COUNTERPART Contrary to public perception, there are few outstanding differences between the Police Interceptor and standard civilian Crown Victorias. By and large, the Police Interceptor uses the same Ford 4.6L 2V SOHC V8 Ford Modular Engine and 4-speed Automatic Overdrive Transmission as the civilian models. The Police Interceptor is equipped with an external oil-to-coolant heat exchanger to help reduce engine oil temperatures to help the vehicles idle for extended lengths of time without overheating. The engine oil coolers are notorious for seeping oil from the o-ring seals after extensive use. The Police Interceptor also comes with a unique 140 MPH speedometer. The 2006-present Police Interceptors equipped with a 3.55:1 rear axle ratio from the factory are electronically limited to 120 MPH due to the lower driveline critical vehicle speed with the 3.55:1 rear axle ratio, while the Police Interceptors equipped with a 3.27:1 rear axle ratio have generally been limited to approximately 130 MPH. Ford used an aluminum metal matrix composite driveshaft for the 1999-early 2001 Police Interceptors as a measure to allow safe operation at over 130 MPH, but it was more expensive than the regular aluminum driveshafts. Ford eventually re-introduced the 3.55:1 rear axle ratio in the 2006 model year Police Interceptors, and set the speed limiter at 120 MPH to reduce the risk of driveline failure. Another difference is Ford's "severe duty" Shock Absorbers that offer a stiffer ride than the civilian Crown Victoria. They also have black steel wheels with stainless steel or chromed plastic hubcaps. Police Interceptors will have the characters "P71" as the model code in the VIN, instead of P70 (Stretched wheelbase), P72 (Commercial Heavy Duty / Taxi), P73 (Base), P74 (LX), or P75 (1992 Touring Sedan). Features that are unique to the Police Interceptor engine calibration are a slightly higher idle speed (approximately 40 RPM higher) and minor changes in the emissions settings. Police Interceptors also have a reinforced frame and body mounts, an aluminum driveshaft (aluminum metal matrix composite for the 1999-early 2001 model years) and an optional Limited Slip Rear Differential. The front seats have a steel "stab plate" built into the back so that a suspect being transported in the back seat cannot stab the officers in the front seat with a knife or other sharp object. All Police Interceptors also come with T-409 stainless steel dual exhaust systems (without resonators); standard Crown Victorias come with a T-409 stainless steel single exhaust system while the Handling and Performance Package and LX Sport equipped Crown Victorias have the same T-409 stainless steel dual exhaust system as the Police Interceptor (with the resonators). The resonators further reduce noise, vibration, and harshness without adding any restriction to the exhaust system. Police Interceptors have higher rate coil springs, approximately 0.8 inches of additional ground clearance, and have thinner rear anti-roll bars than the LX Sport or Handling and Performance Package Crown Victorias; the base Crown Victoria does not have a rear anti-roll bar. Also, most Police Interceptors have a break in the front "bench seat" despite having the shifter on the steering column. This gap between seats is generally filled by a console holding radios, controls for emergency equipment, and often a laptop computer used as a Mobile Data Terminal (MDT). On 2004 and newer models, P71's have a 200 amp (A) alternator and a 78 ampere-hour (Ah) battery. Ford also offers trunk packages for equipment storage (see below), and as of 2005, has added a fire suppression system to the Police Interceptor. The bulk of police car modifications, such as installation of emergency lights, sirens, passenger seat dividers and plastic rear bench seats are offered as aftermarket modifications by third parties. The easiest way to distinguish most P71s is the small "Police Interceptor" badge replacing the standard "Crown Victoria" markings on the rear trunklid, although the Street Appearance Package Police Interceptors forgo the badge to use the standard "Crown Victoria" marking. PROBLEMS AND CRITICISM Following the criticism of fires following Rear-end Collision s, 2005 and later model Police Interceptors now come with an optional automatic fire suppression system and special "trunk packs" designed to help prevent trunk contents from piercing the fuel tank in a collision. Each agency must pay an additional $150 for the trunk packs. For a more detailed discussion of the fuel tank leakage concerns that prompted these changes, see Ford Crown Victoria . There were also some problems with early 2003 Police Interceptors. The newly designed steel wheels would rust prematurely, and the Rack And Pinion steering units would fail early (sub-10k miles). This was not limited to the Police Interceptor; some 2004 Mercury Marauder s were also affected. A recent recall (04M05) affects the steel wheels used on 2003-2005 Police Interceptors. CULTURAL REFERENCES The ubiquity of Crown Victorias law enforcement is reflected in contemporary films and television programs, where they are also often featured as taxis. Mercury Grand Marquis are sometimes used instead of Crown Victorias. FUTURE
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Ford Crown Victoria (USA):
| "http://wwwfordvehiclescom/cars/crownvictoria/" class="copylinks" target="_blank">Civilian Police Interceptor Commercial Version (includes long-wheelbase version) |
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