In the UK, we receive information on awards such as tow car of the year and fuel economy records. In America, the police are conducting tests to present the title of 'best-in-class overall acceleration pursuit vehicle'.
That's right, the Michigan State law enforcers have pitched its prospective police vehicles through the road test mill in proper Autocar style to discover which is best suited to its needs. Having won the test, Ford is keen to publicise the results.
Its 4WD Interceptor Ecoboost V6 proved faster to 60mph (5.66 seconds) and 100mph (13.5 seconds) than its rivals, the Dodge Charger and Chevy Caprice. The 4WD 5.7 Hemi Dodge clocked 6.04 seconds and 14.70, the 6.0-litre Caprice 6.01 and 14.35 seconds.
Ford also wheeled out its Interceptor Utility at the Michigan test, again equipped with the 3.5-litre engine. Its victim? The Chevrolet Tahoe V8. Whilst the Ford shot away to 60mph in 6.28 seconds and 100mph in 15.51, the Tahoe was left trailing with 8.22 and 21.95 seconds respectively.
We'll allow Ford's chief engineer Bill Gubling to explain the logic here. "These tests... are an important validation of outright acceleration - the most critical measure of police pursuit vehicles."
So yes, figuring cars is all about public safety really; apparently police agencies tell Ford 'the bad guys' are less likely to run if the car closes swiftly in pursuit. Gubling again. "If this can help reduce the number of high-speed chases, then we could improve public safety on our nation's roads." You can't say fairer than that!
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