Chrysler's New Hemi Police Cars

[HEMI300C]

Originally Posted by DaimlerChrysler Media

Dodge in Hot Pursuit of Police Car Market with HEMI®-powered 2006 Dodge Charger

* Dodge puts 340 horses under good guys' hoods
* Dodge Charger joins Dodge Magnum to make modern muscle available for street patrol
* Superior rear-wheel-drive performance and handling characteristics designed to perform and protect

Auburn Hills, Mich., Mar 24, 2005 - Dodge charges into the police car market this fall with the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle, offering law enforcement agencies a four-door sedan with all the power, handling and functionality they require to effectively patrol the streets.

"With rear-wheel drive and available HEMI® power at the pavement, the Dodge Charger provides optimum police car pursuit performance," said Darryl Jackson, Vice President – Dodge Marketing, Chrysler Group. "Dodge has a strong police heritage and is proud to offer vehicles armed with modern muscle and cutting-edge technology.”

The 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle will join the previously announced Dodge Magnum police vehicle to round out Dodge’s growing fleet of bold, powerful and capable vehicles for law enforcement agencies.

“We listened to what law enforcement officers asked for and paid attention to the details that are important to them,” said Ray Fisher, Vice President – Sales, Service and Parts Operations, Chrysler Group. “By integrating features and functionality into the original design of the Dodge Charger, we can give our police customers an affordable, capable vehicle with industry-leading innovations.”

For the ultimate in pursuit power, the Dodge Charger police vehicle will be available with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine that produces 340 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 390 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. The V-8 HEMI engine features Chrysler Group's Multi-displacement System (MDS), which seamlessly alternates between smooth, high fuel economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is required. Fuel efficiency improves by up to 20 percent with MDS, but not at the expense of performance. Dodge Charger police vehicles equipped with HEMI engines will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds.

The 2006 Dodge Charger police car also will be available with a powerful, 3.5-liter High Output V-6 engine that provides 250 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 250 lb.-ft. of torque at 3800 rpm, offering an outstanding blend of performance and fuel economy.

A fully electronic five-speed automatic transmission with an Electronically Modulated Converter Clutch (EMCC) offers improved shift feel to match a variety of driving styles, situations and road conditions. This transmission is standard on all Dodge Charger police cars. Heavy-duty brakes and linings, also standard on Charger police vehicles, provide secure and stable deceleration and braking capability.

In addition, Dodge Charger police vehicles will include an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Emergency Brake Assist, All-speed Traction Control and four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). Combined, these features will provide balance and control for officers in a variety of surface and weather conditions.

* ESP enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability in turns, even on uneven surfaces, patchy snow, ice or gravel. If there is a discernible difference between what the driver asks through the steering and the vehicle’s path, ESP applies selective braking and throttle control to put the car back onto the driver’s intended path
* Emergency Brake Assist detects when maximum braking is required through sensing the rate of brake application. By applying full brake pressure to all four brakes, this system improves stopping distance
* All-speed Traction Control enhances mobility and prevents wheel slip when accelerating on slippery surfaces. It also provides a measure of directional stability control and helps keep the car on its intended course. The system works by braking the slipping wheel in low-traction situations. However, it also can adjust the throttle control, making the vehicle less reliant on brake applications alone
* ABS keeps the vehicle straight and retains steering capability while braking on slippery surfaces by preventing wheel lock-up

Both passive and active safety features also are incorporated in the new Dodge Charger police vehicles. These include: advanced multistage driver and front passenger air bags, a front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) for controlled airbag deployment, constant force seat belt retractors, pretensioners, an energy-absorbing steering column, optional side-curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system to alert officers of low tire pressure.

Preliminary Standard Features

Standard features on the 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle will include the following items of particular importance to law enforcement customers:

* 100-amp battery power feed in trunk
* 160-amp high-output alternator
* 160-mph calibrated speedometer
* 800CCA heavy-duty battery
* cloth front bucket seats with manual lumbar and rear fixed bench seat
* column shifter
* easy path wiring grommet between underhood and passenger compartment
* emergency rear-door-lock override
* external oil coolers
* four-wheel independent performance suspension
* heavy-duty brakes and linings
* integrated engine hour meter
* P225/60R 18 V-rated all-season performance tires and 18-inch steel wheels
* performance-tuned steering
* police equipment interface module
* police equipment mounting bracket
* rear door locks and rear window switches inoperable from the rear seats
* severe-duty cooling system
* software-controlled alternating head- and taillamps
* special electrical wiring for police market applications
* speed control
* stealth mode switch for interior lighting

Additional standard features and optional equipment are available on the Dodge Charger police vehicle to provide law enforcement customers an affordable vehicle with industry- leading innovations that make upfitting the vehicle faster and safer.

Production

Production for the 2006 Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum police vehicles will begin in the fall of 2005 at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario (Canada) alongside the 2006 Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300.

The 2006 Dodge police vehicles will be available to county, city and state police departments in the fourth quarter of 2005, with pricing announced at that time.

[ProjectRS]

nice, those are hot!

On a side note, the police light-bars are looking better each year. I even saw a new cop car with all clear lights on top. You can even see them till they start flashing

[FordMan]

Isn't the reason most people don't buy Crown Victoria's is because the police drive them?

[AndrewGS]

Just as I expected.

[fullsizefan]

Originally Posted by FordMan

Isn't the reason most people don't buy Crown Victoria's is because the police drive them?

No, most civilians don't buy the Crown Vic because it is a POS. Being a cop car never hurt the Impala SS/Caprice. Go look at what used 9C1 Caprices fetch... quite a following out there. I know a few NY State Troopers who b!tched up a storm when GM dropped the Caprice.... they HATED the CV, and probably wouldn't shed a tear if someone else came out with a decent RWD sedan for police work.

It will be interesting to see how they price the Charger. I would suspect a lot of police departments would jump ship to the Charger is the price is right. The only salvation for the CV is that it is cheap and RWD.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by FordMan

Isn't the reason most people don't buy Crown Victoria's is because the police drive them?

No, most people don't buy the Crown Victoria because I haven't seen an ad for it in like 15 years. The reason I bought a used B-body instead of a CV is because it's easy to modify a B-body's LT1, whereas the CV's 4.6L is more expensive to mod and get power out of. If they put the Mustang GT's 4.6L (with 300hp.) in the CV LX Sport and made it an option on other CVs, they'd sell more of them.

[Stag]

I wonder if now that there is a rear wheel alternative to the CV if police forces are going to migrate in large groups due to the issues with the fires from hard rear end impacts on the CV. I know there is a fix in place, but I have few friends who are highway patrol and they hate driving the CV because of that issue (among others).

[vdoh182]

That looks cool, i wonder how much itll cost police station though. Cop cars get crazier every year, especially the lights, ive seen new ones with mechanized lights that stay down flat but then stand up on poles when they are turned on. also, ive seen a lot more police suburbans and even explorers lately. I heard one of the main problems with the dodge cars was that they weren't body on frame and thats what a lot of police depatments prefered, so im not sure how well theyll be received, but i bet they will sell well because of the hemi.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by Stag

I wonder if now that there is a rear wheel alternative to the CV if police forces are going to migrate in large groups due to the issues with the fires from hard rear end impacts on the CV. I know there is a fix in place, but I have few friends who are highway patrol and they hate driving the CV because of that issue (among others).

Tell them to visit www.CVPI.com .

[04bonnie]

Wow...the Charger really looks mean. It really fits as a police vehicle....imagin that coming after you in traffic! The Magnum is ok looking too. I wasn't real enthused either way on these Chrysler products, they are growing on me, but in police gear...they really come alive....real aggressive is what a police vehicle needs...they almost look cartoonish, made especially mean looking. Not sure how the new Impala will look as a police...not real "police like"...like these Dodges are. I think the police departments will be all over these.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by vdoh182

That looks cool, i wonder how much itll cost police station though. Cop cars get crazier every year, especially the lights, ive seen new ones with mechanized lights that stay down flat but then stand up on poles when they are turned on. also, ive seen a lot more police suburbans and even explorers lately. I heard one of the main problems with the dodge cars was that they weren't body on frame and thats what a lot of police depatments prefered, so im not sure how well theyll be received, but i bet they will sell well because of the hemi.

Around here Silverados and Tahoes are the preferred trucks, most are those that won't buy a CV.. Harris County Sheriffs use alot of Impalas, but the City of Houston is pretty much all CV, and Harris County Constables seen to prefer the CV, at least my cousin who is a Constable went to the CV after his 2001 Impala 9C1. He used Caprices up until 2001 when he got his Impala, and about a year ago he bought a CV P71 because the Impala was crap as a police car.

[dreadnaught1181]

Probably see the V-6 in alot of metro cop cars with the Hemi cars being restricted to highway patrol and pursuit units. I want to say that the 1978 Dodge Polara with a 440 holds the record for fastest police sedan, but I'm not sure. This will probably take it though.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by dreadnaught1181

Probably see the V-6 in alot of metro cop cars with the Hemi cars being restricted to highway patrol and pursuit units. I want to say that the 1978 Dodge Polara with a 440 holds the record for fastest police sedan, but I'm not sure. This will probably take it though.

Nope, 1996 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 was the fastest, and toughest for that matter.

[camaro chris]

Originally Posted by fullsizefan

No, most civilians don't buy the Crown Vic because it is a POS.

ok the Crown Vic doesnt sell great but its mechanical (and almost all of its exterior) twin, the grand marquis, sells well. its not a POS and i hate ford so for me to say that means the cars gotta be pretty good. have you ever been in one? its got good V8 power, smooth ride and pretty good fit and finish. its not the best car out there, but the CrownVic/GrandMarquis i believe (correct me if im wrong) are Ford's biggest money makers.

[dreadnaught1181]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Nope, 1996 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 was the fastest, and toughest for that matter.

Where could I find numbers on that? I remember seeing them along time ago, but REALLY don't want to go digging through the Web for 'em.