What a big let down for us law enforcement folks, who were looking forward to getting back into a V8 bowtie cruiser.

The 3.9L V6 rated at 240hp will be the Impala 9C1 engine, which is by the way exactly 100hp short of the new Dodge Enforcer/Charger Police Pkg. that has the 340hp 5.7L Hemi V8, which is going on sale at the same time as the new Impala 9C1 this fall. My guess is there must be some durability issues somewhere with the FWD V8 configuration under extreme usage, I'd say not the engine but the transmission/transaxle in all likely hood.

No performance #s are yet available for the '06 Impala 9C1, but it should be slightly faster than a Ford Crown Vic/Police Interceptor with 0 to 60 times around 8 seconds. Top Speed for the '06 Impala 9C1 will be limited to 135 mph, which is a good 8-10 mph faster than the previous generation 9C1.

The Tahoe Pursuit Pkg. is pretty much unchanged for 2006. Sales were very good in 2005 for the Tahoe Pursuit Pkg. even though its around $4K-5K more than the average Ford Police Interceptor price.

For 2006 the Ford Police Interceptor has a whole host of minor changes, biggest being an upgrade to 17" wheels. Ford has promised the Crown Vic/Police Interceptor will be available through 2009 model year.

Dodge has been gearing up for the release of the Charger/Enforcer Police Pkg. with a huge marketing campaign for a while now. It seems like every other day were getting something in the mail from them on there new police car. A few months ago we got a bunch of bumper stickers from Dodge. Black with red letters " MY NEXT POLICE CAR IS GOING TO HAVE A HEMI" Thats a pretty good marketing slogan.

My prediction is that if the price is right, Dodge will steal a HUGE part of the police market this coming year, and will probably have the majority of the market the next following year.

More on the Dodge Enforcer later.....

 

If a guy were very friendly with a Dodge dealer...I wonder what a Hemi Enforcer would sell for?

 

V8 or not, I doubt many departments are that excited to get a FWD unibody car. RWD is in big demand in that market segment.

At least with Dodge finally competing, Ford will have a reason to update the CV. It's been pretty much unchanged since 1998, which is just 2 years after the Caprice left the market.

 

The Charger police package just furthers the notion for me that the Charger should've been called something else. Chargers used to run from the police (Dukes of Hazzard anyone? ), now they are the police?

In fact, I just figured out what the "Charger" reminds me of. They should've named the new car "Diplomat" and called it a day.

 

Yeah, I really hope the Charger /doesn't/ get all the police sales. It's cool to see a Camaro or Trans'am as a police car every now and then, but I wouldn't want them being the norm.

God I would never buy a Crown Vic because of that stigma. Don't do that to the Charger...

Ditto what Z28Wilson said... "Diplomat". And "Charger" as a coupe.

 

If the hemi and LX plants are having trouble keeping up with retail demand I can't see DCX sacraficing profits by selling stripped police cars. It just doesn't make financial sense. If they can increase production capacity then they sure can make a lot of police sales but ONLY if those cars aren't needed for higher profit applications.

 

I guess all those Special Service 5.0 Mustangs hurt the name and image as well, huh?


Damn straight!

 

After driving one, I am completely over the name thing and the 4 doors. Completely.

And I think most of you will get over it too. Just like everyone got over the the 4 door B-body Impala SS.

 

Does this remind you of the 1992 Crown Victoria - another car that wasn't offered to police fleets?

 

I beleive the Chrarger Police package will have the V6 standard and the Hemi V8 as an option.

My guess is also the Impala transaxel wasn't seen as reliable enough for 200,000mi. of police work in LS4 cars.

Impalas will be better on gas than Hemi Chargers which as long as you aren't doing highway patrol work is better for most municipalities.

 

I think the 17"s have been standard on the P71 since 2003.

 

Since 1998 the Crown Vic Police Pkg. has used 16" wheels, 17" wheels are available on the civilian model Crown Vic Sport.

The Dodge Enforcer will have standard 18" wheels with standard birght hubcaps (chrome small center caps) or optional 18" bolt on wheel covers.

Meanwhile the new Impala 9C1 is staying with 16" wheels

 

big wheels = tax dollar for tires bub. They dont need 18's.

 

Why do cop cars need big bling-bling rims?

Like graham said, that is a waste of tax-payer dollars. 225/60/16" tires are relitivly cheap. Police package is all about function, that is why they have the steel rims and/or hub caps instead of chrome wheels. I'd rather have my local police tax dollars going into better training or equipment instead of huge rims and gas hungry engines.

 

If I'm not mistaken, transmission failures are/have been occuring in 4th gen B4C Camaros.

If I'm not mistaken, this was also an issue with the CHP in not having more Camaros as patrol cars in the heyday of the 5.0 Mustangs.