Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor | |
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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 1998–Present |
| Assembly | Ontario, Canada |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | Panther |
| Engine | 4.6L Modular SOHC V8 |
| Transmission | 4 speed automatic |
| Related | Ford Crown Victoria Mercury Grand Marquis Mercury Marauder (2003–2004) Lincoln Town Car |
| Similar | Chevrolet Impala 9C1/9C3 Dodge Charger (Police Version) |
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 the year before, 1998. The 1979–91 full-size LTDs and LTD Crown Victorias and 1992 updated body style prior to 1993 used the P72 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) code for both fleet/taxi and police models (only used for one model year for the newer style body in 1992). From 1993–1998, the police car models of Crown Victorias were officially known as Crown Victoria P71s. 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.
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.
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[edit] Design
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 air intake system. This includes a new airbox that resembles the Mercury Marauder airbox (raised airbox lid, deeper bottom) with an integrated 80mm mass air flow (MAF) sensor that is part of the airbox lid. This allows for much more precise flow calibration and reduces the chances of air leakage. P71 zip tube (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.
[edit] 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 the aluminum metal matrix composite driveshafts 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), or P74 (LX). 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. On 2004 and newer models, P71's have a 200 amp (A) alternator and a 78 ampere-hour (Ah) battery. 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).
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.
[edit] Problems and criticism
Following the criticism of fires following rear-end collisions, 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 Marauders were also affected. A recent recall (04M05) affects the steel wheels used on 2003-2005 Police Interceptors.
[edit] Cultural references
Because of the ubiquity of this type in law enforcement, most police cars that appear in movies and television shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s in North America will be Crown Victorias, as well as many taxis. If you look carefully enough, some shows will substitute a Grand Marquis, the Mercury version of the Crown Victoria.
[edit] Future
Ford Motor Company has announced that it is committed to the law enforcement community and that the CVPI will remain in production well into the future. [1] Although General Motors and Chrysler have offered cars for police pursuit such as the Dodge Intrepid and Chevrolet Tahoe, none have yet been widely accepted. Many police agencies have ordered and are testing the Dodge Charger, or using them as unmarked vehicles, but it remains to be seen if they will replace the Fords in large numbers soon. Although the vehicles are now classified as full-size, they are only slightly larger than the intermediate sized cars popular in the 1970s such as the AMC Matador and Plymouth Fury.
[edit] Gallery
 Prince George's County, Maryland Police Interceptor |
 Police Interceptor of the Chicago Police Department. |
 Police Interceptor of the NYPD. |
 Police Interceptor of the Hopewell Township Police Department. |
 Police Interceptor of the Halton Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada. |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Ford Crown Victoria (U.S.A.): Civilian | Police Interceptor | Commercial Version (includes long-wheelbase version)
- paper discussing safety equipment on police cars, specifically addressing equipment to address a series of Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors that suffered rear-end-collisions resulting in fires. Article also addresses the use of flashing lights, reflectors, &c on police vehicles (PDF file)
[edit] Unofficial websites and resources
- Crown North America - Factory Installed Police Prep Packages
- Grandmarq.net panther body forums
- CrownVic.Net Forums
- CrownVic.us Forums
- Police Car Pics
- AutoGuideWiki.com
- Jonelle's Crown Vics, etc.
- Liquid's Crown Victoria Model Changes Page
- Used Crown Victoria Police Package for sale to the public
