A little while back Ford confirmed that a
hybrid Mustang
would become a production reality as part of its electrification drive. Must have been a shock to some, if you will excuse the tragic pun. But the Ford hybrid push extends further than the muscle cars and pick-ups, as it now also includes police cars...
Yes, this is the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan; sounds a bit like what Hot Wheels would have to call a car without the licence for it, but is clearly based on the Ford Fusion and is said to be the industry's first pursuit-rated hybrid police car.
Moreover with Ford apparently having a 63 per cent market share in police vehicle sales, and the cars available to order this year, this is clearly not some toe in the water test bed. US cities will be getting four-cylinder hybrid police cars soon!
The Police Responder Hybrid Sedan has been built to replace the 3.7-litre V6 Police Interceptor used currently. That engine is replaced by a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle motor, then supplemented by an electric motor powered by a lithium battery. Fuel consumption is expected to be halved, with a predicted 38mpg against today's 18. More than that the battery allows the high electrical loads of a police vehicle to be managed without the engine running. That battery also allows the Responder to reach 60mph on electricity alone. All this while being "tough enough to handle police pursuits for longer periods at different speeds and over obstacles such as curbs and flooded intersections." Certainly looks it!
Once ordered, the cars are due with police departments next year. Will others follow? Are the days of V6 and V8 police cars rolling around the US numbered? What about car chases in American films? Surely they can't use four-cylinder police cars. So many questions to answer!