With
368 bhp and 395 lb/ft of torque from its 5.7-litre V8 HEMI
engine the muscular Dodge Charger police car is the most
powerful law enforcement vehicle on the roads of the U.S.
Fitting the HEMI engine gives the good guys more horses
under the hood and even better fuel economy.
“With
rear-wheel drive and HEMI power at the pavement, our new
Dodge Charger provides optimum police car pursuit
performance,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand
Marketing. “Dodge has a strong police car heritage, and we
are proud to offer a vehicle armed with modern muscle and
cutting-edge technology to help law enforcement agencies
perform their duties.”
With
the 5.7-liter HEMI, the Dodge Charger is the most powerful
production police vehicle on the road, producing 368
horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. The Dodge Charger is
the only police vehicle that offers best-in-class
performance in four key pursuit categories: available power,
acceleration, top speed and vehicle dynamics.
With a
fuel economy rating of 16 city/25 highway, the new HEMI
engine also gets up to 20 percent better fuel economy with
the addition of fuel-saving Multi-Displacement System (MDS)
technology, which deactivates four of the eight cylinders
when less power is needed while cruising. Our fuel-saving
MDS technology functions so smoothly that officers won’t
notice when four of the eight cylinders are deactivated, but
they’ll always have the power of the V8 when they need it,”
said Roxie Thomas, Senior Manager -- Government Sales. The
Dodge Charger police car comes standard with a five-speed
automatic transmission with AutoStick mated to a powerful,
3.5-liter High-Output V-6 engine that provides 250
horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque, offering an
outstanding blend of performance and fuel economy (16
city/25 highway).
The
Dodge Charger police vehicle was designed from the ground up
in order to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies.
Police-specific features include greater stability and
improved handling achieved through a “wheels-to-the-corners”
design; performance-tuned steering and suspension;
convenient shifter mounted on the instrument panel to make
room for police equipment in the centre console area; police
interior lighting shines white to illuminate the interior
and red for use with night vision equipment; heavy-duty
seats accommodate fully equipped officers; and a spacious
trunk.
The
Dodge Charger police vehicle comes equipped with Electronic
Stability Program (ESP), a segment exclusive that includes
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), All-speed traction control,
Yaw Sensor and Steering Angle Sensor. ESP electronically
detects and automatically assists drivers in critical
driving situations, including adverse conditions. ESP works
by constantly comparing the driver’s intended course with
the vehicle’s actual course, detecting differences, applying
the brakes to individual wheels and controlling engine power
in order to help keep the vehicle on its intended path.
Dodge Charger is also equipped with Brake Assist, which
helps apply maximum braking power in emergency situations.
Both
passive and active safety features are incorporated into the
Dodge Charger police vehicle. These features include unibody
steel construction; standard advanced multi-stage driver and
front-passenger air bags; available supplemental
side-curtain airbags and seat-mounted air bags;
best-in-class braking from 60 mph to zero in 135 feet; and
mid-vehicle-mounted saddlebag gas tank.
Standard Features
Standard features on the Dodge Charger police vehicle
include the following items of particular importance to law
enforcement customers: 3.5-liter High-Output V6 engine with
250 hp and 250 lb.-ft. of torque; 160-amp high-output
alternator; 160-mph or 260–km/h (certified) calibrated
speedometer; 18 x 7.5-inch steel wheels; 800 CCA battery;
AM/FM radio with CD player, changer controls, four speakers
and clock with auxiliary audio input jack; Bright hubcaps;
Easy Path Wiring Grommet between underhood and passenger
compartments; External oil coolers; Four-wheel disc
heavy-duty antilock brakes with all-speed traction control;
Four-wheel independent performance suspension; Heavy-duty
cloth front bucket seats with manual lumbar and a cloth rear
bench seat; Column-mounted shift lever; Load-leveling,
height-control shock absorbers; P225/60R18 BSW V-rated
performance tires; Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with
Brake Assist and all-speed traction control; Police
performance-tuned steering; Trunk-lid key lock cylinder;
Separate key and key fob; Severe-duty cooling system;
Independently switched red/white LED dome lamp. Additional
standard features and optional equipment are available on
the Dodge Charger police vehicle in order to provide law
enforcement customers an affordable vehicle with
industry-leading innovations that make upfitting the vehicle
faster and safer.
Police Car Heritage
The former Chrysler Corporation dominated the police car
business throughout the 1960s, ‘70s and early ‘80s, with
U.S. market shares ranging from 45-60 percent. Police
vehicles manufactured by the former Chrysler Corporation
included the Dodge Monaco, Dodge Royal Monaco, Dodge
Coronet, Dodge Diplomat, Dodge Dart, Dodge St. Regis,
Plymouth Fury, Plymouth Gran Fury, Plymouth Volare and
Chrysler Newport. After a 12-year hiatus, Dodge returned to
the police car market with the 2002 Dodge Intrepid. The
front-wheel-drive Dodge Intrepid earned a 4 percent share of
the approximately 70,000 unit U.S. market. That vehicle was
phased out of production in 2003. In the fall of 2004, Dodge
previewed the 2006 Dodge Magnum as a police vehicle,
offering enhanced rear-wheel-drive performance and handling
with a spacious, flexible interior for police special
service uses. In 2005, the Dodge Charger joined the ranks,
offering law enforcement agencies a four-door sedan option.
The Dodge Charger continues to gain momentum in the
marketplace as the preferred vehicle for law
enforcement. Sales of the Dodge Charger police car increased 17 percent in 2008 over 2007.