egmCarTech

With all these vehicle manufacturing plants closing you'd think one mfr would jump in and make a spec requested law enforcement only vehicle that would revolutionalize the law enf community. Build the light bars in the roof line which would allow for higher head room inside the car. Bigger engines with wider wheel wells, police specific interiors with consoles for computers and radios. Now the problem....nobody would ever make any money at doing it because the govts would not want to pay the (I'm certain) slightly higher price per vehicle.

Try http://www.carbonmotors.com/ it's dedictate to police.

Bottom line, we need a purpose built police vehicle, not another retro-fitted car! The crown vic's have been a "bullet proof" vehicle for all these years, but its still a car that the public has been able to drive in the past and has been retro-fitted to suit our needs. In my opinion, this just does not cut it anymore. We need a vehicle that is specifically designed for police operations only! More room for all the equipment (our duty belts), new technology, etc. If Ford is willing to work with Law Enforcement to design this type of vehicle, then they might have a winner? Otherwise, GM may be the new leader with the Caprice and Carbon Motors will eventually be a strong competitor too, but cops must have insight into building a car that cops use everyday, not another vehicle that equipment is squished into and called a police car.

It sure would be great if these manufactures of POLICE CARS were to ask everyday road officers what works, doesn't and what is needed in a cruiser. They would, in my opinion have a much better ergonomically designed vehicle.

I really want a new Taurus, but not if the cops are gonna get it. That will ruin the car completely. How many people do you know that drive Crown Victoria's?

the only people that can get a crown vic now is a police department moron...

How many years have we been hearing that ford is going to stop making the crown vic. Then the next year they make it again.

The Taurus is just the Ford 500 that floped and ford used the Taurus name to boost sales. If they keep the crown vic close to what it is now then we don't have to buy new cages and other equipment to install, SAVING THE POLICE LOTS OF MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Police departments NEED the Crown Victoria! Not a single car, including the Dodge Charger comes close to the size of the Crown Vic.

Police Need:
-A big backseat while still having room in the front
-A huge trunk that key locks from the inside (enough to fit everything LEO mentioned plus various other eqpt)
-Some speed but not a whole lot but more importantly a transmission that can take a beating!
-Low center of gravity to handle intense turns (which is why Tahoes and Expeditions aren't the vehicles of choice--they flip)

As it is, the newer Crown Victorias are smaller. The newer, the smaller. The 94 was huge compared to the 2000, and the 2000 is huge compared to the 2009. The trunk space, leg room (front to back, not left to right), and cabin room has decreased in size. Its only a couple of inches every year but its noticable.

Police need a big car. The Tarus wont cut it. Too small in the back. THe only car I can say would work is the Toyota Camry only because it has a fairly large interior but again lacks in the trunk size.

If Ford makes the seats themselves shorter (not the back but the seat itself) only by maybe 4 or 5 inches, it would make a world of difference. Also, the trunk needs to be that good old, wide, deep trunk that has the shelf in it. These sports car trunks dont cut it. And lets not forget, the center console...The Crown Vic is one of the only cars with the shifter by the steering wheel...if Ford doesn't make that an option on the Tarus...it has no chance of being the new police car. And lets not even mention the width of the car...the Tarus is way to narrow!

As far as speed goes, most cops dont go over 40mph in an urban/suburban setting and wouldnt need anything over 70. Its the highway cops that need that beast under the hood that will pump out that speed. Even still, speed is a liability and the radios are faster than any car designed.

So, if Ford made a hybrid Crown Victoria with a v-6 just for the urban/suburban settings, they'd sell like condoms in Vegas....however, they should keep a V-8 option with the 4.6L or bigger just for the highway.

I have been in Law Enforcement for nearly 16 years and have driven primarily the Ford Crown Vic. I have driven the older Chev Impalas but the Crown Vic really is a cut above the rest. Our department has bought a couple Chev Tahoe 4x2 for squad packages and they seem to be performing quite well. Offers better warranty than Ford but I am a little cautious about having a Taurus as a squad package. I am 6'4" and all of 270 pounds, I am concerned that there will not be much interior room for officers. Ford needs to design a better suspension package like the Dodge Charger, it blows the doors off the Crown Vics. Oh ya, put the 5.4L motor in the crown vics as standard, the 4.6L has been in there for years and needs to be upgraded to the bigger V8. Thanks

When talking of replacing the Crown Victoria Police Package with anything, the main problem is that in this case size does matter. This is ultimatley where the Charger and the Impala have both fell short. The Crown Victoria is not only a sturdy, reliable vehicle...both tried and tested over years of abuse, but it is the only vehicle left in the police vehicle segment (with the exception of the more expensive SUV's like the Tahoe) boasting enough passenger and storage space to conveniently act as a fleet patrol vehicle.
Today police are issued with more tools and equipment then ever before. A normal patrol vehicle trunk is full of electronics for the radio system and light package, shovels, fire extinguishers, pry bars, pylons, flares, haz-mat bags, first aid kits, usually a spare tire (but not always) and who knows what else. All of this stuff has to be stored somewhere safely. Long guns, computers, radio's and other electronic devices such as radar has to be mounted safely in the driver's compartment and made secure as not to become a projectile in a collision. Ok now fit two 6 foot plus men in body armor and duty belts into that vehicle as well. Did I mention you have to put a prisoner in the back seat...so that means a cage right behind the driver's seat...and you better leave a little room so that your uniform hat doesn't get crushed or the chief will have your butt in a sling. So like I said Size does matter. Whatever the new police package will be think big.

Ford does build another RWD sedan that IS currently in use in Police service in particularly varied conditions. It is fast modern and powerful and can be had with 6 cylinder, 6 cylinder turbo and V8 engines. It has fully independent suspension, 5star crash rating, BIG brakes even on the standard model and has been engineered to handle and compete with the Holden Commodore/G8. It is even built in an english speaking, stable democracy that was part of the coalition of the willing. The Ford Falcon! Wow, not invented in the US though so I gues it doesn't rate a mention....

Great. If they have the SHO model, it'll be a lot harder to get away from. One thing you could always count on is that the crown vic could never keep up with modern day coupes around the corners.

I GUESS YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN ONE OF THE 2006 UP VICs IN A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT. I CAN TELL YOU IT WILL HANG W/ "MODERN DAY COUPES" W/O A PROBLEM. I LOVE IT WHEN I HEAR THESE GUYS TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THE COPS. LISTEN IT'S NOT THAT YOU CAN GET AWAY MOST DEPARTMENT DON'T WANT US CHASING STUPID PEOPLE FOR TRAFFIC CRIMES BECAUSE OF LIABILTY AND LIFE RELATED ISSUES FOR IDIOCY. ANYWAYS, FOR A LARGE CAR I CAN TELL YOU IT THINKS IT'S A SMALL CAR. IT HANDLE VERY WELL AND THE HARDER YOU PUSH IT THE BETTER! IF FORD IS GOING TO CHANGE THIS CAR THEY BETTER MAKE IT AS DURABLE AND STRONG AS THE CURRENT VIC OR THEY WILL SEE RED!

why can't ford call the new taurus crown vic istead ending the legendry line up.
on the other hand it's an oppertunity for chev to bring back chev caprice.

jas nagra

I could see that perception. On the other hand, how many people will get out of your way without thinking about it when you're driving a black or white Impala down the highway? I think what happened was Ford built the new Taurus and realized they had also produced the perfect police cruiser, probably without explicitly trying to. It's just that the improvements being made at Ford to the drive, fuel economy, and reliability of its vehicles converged on their most recent attempt at a full-sized sedan.

NO! Keep the Crown Vic. One of the things that always hurt Malibu and Impala sales were the perception that they were cop rides. By making a Taurus a cop car you immediately kill the cool.

The Crown Vic has to cost close to nothing to produce anymore, just keep stuffing the police with that crap and leave us our cool new Taurus!

The taurus was never cool. But I agree keep the Crown Vic they're so easy to spot.

Its interesting reading comments from those who no nothing of the facts. Federal Roof Crush Standards coming into effect over the next few years would have required Ford to invest millions of dollars in a platform that is 20 years old. Not to mention everything else on that platform thats legacy. It was a great police vehicle but technology has surpassed this old platform and Ford cannot continue its production.

The Crown Victoria last build is August 2011. The CAW and Ford just reached an agreement the St Thomas plant will close Sept 2011.

Ford is working closely with it Police Advisory Board and will have pursuit rated vehicles coming out to replace the Crown Victoria. Those cops out there that want interior ergonomics better suited to a police mobile office, well Ford is listening big time.

Fords EcoBoost technology in a V6 engine can put out more torque and HP then the current Crown Victoria 4.6L V8. It also gets way better gas mileage is emits less GHG.

People must remember that a car company can only produce a car if its profitable and they have to sell enough to make a profit. Any police car developed will be done off a retail car and modified at the factory for police. Its simply too expensive to just have a police car factory.

Thats why most believe the "Carbon Motors" super cop car is actually another scheme from Bernie Madoff.

I like how you put out the facts. lets face it the only time I get in my trunk is for a car accident. That is not every day. If your too big to fit in a full size car, well lets face it some sit ups wouldnt hurt. We all need to remember we heard the same bitching when the new Vic's came out. Let the smart people make the cars. We should just worry about doing the job. If it has lights and goes woo woo woo as it goes down the road what else do you need. Suck it up and remember your oath. It had nothing to do with what kind of car you drive.