Police SUVs, cruisers get much-needed updates

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It's a sight people dread when they're speeding, but it's welcome when they need help: the unmistakable police cruiser.

But now, police will get to drive a new car this year - the Dodge Charger Pursuit, with the optional 5.7 liter hemi under the hood. This will end up being the last traditional style police car.

And that's because the only other one around, the Chevy Caprice, will likely be going away. General Motors is closing the only factory that builds it in Adelaide, Australia in 2017.

Chevrolet is doubling down on the police business with an all new cop Tahoe, featuring a V-8 engine and rear or all-wheel drive. It is not just some stripped down soccer mom SUV either. It's the pursuit-rated specialty vehicle that can accelerate and handle like a police car should.

The added room in the back helps officers on specialty detail and carry all of their gear.

The SUV bodies are quickly becoming the next standard in law enforcement. The Ford Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility, along with the sedan version, were both created to fill the void after Ford eliminated the aging Crown Victoria.

The new Interceptor not only gets strong ratings in official testing, but with the optional twin-turbo V-6 engine under the hood, it offers more power than the Crown Victoria ever did.

But contrary to popular belief, police cars do not get special higher-power engines that are not available to the general public. The engines in the Charger, Tahoe and Explorer are the same engines found in civilian versions of those same cars.

These are the pieces of equipment that are used often in life-or-death situations and as such, they have to be updated to work with other pieces of law enforcement gear.

Modular systems and wiring have been installed to accommodate electronic equipment. Automakers work hand-in-hand with police agencies to ensure that the cars will be able to handle modifications properly. They also need to be able to hold up to hard use, especially as budget-challenged agencies keep their vehicles in service as long as possible.

As for prices, manufacturers do not discuss those for competitive reasons. Agencies negotiate with whichever company they are purchasing from and a larger order gets a better price.

The California Highway Patrol, for example, purchased 1,400 of the Interceptor models. Even though that car carries a supposed sticker price of about $30,000, it is probably a safe bet that the state got a steep discount for such a large order.

These new cars might make a driver's heart skip when it's in their rear view mirror, but like other police equipment, it's a modern tool to get a difficult job done.