Bill Pierre Ford

The Police Interceptor (often referred to simply as CVPI) is the law enforcement version of the 1999 and later Ford Crown Victoria. Though the name has only been officially in use for the car starting in 1999, the current major design of the car has been the same since 1998. The 1979–1991 full-size LTDs and LTD Crown Victorias and 1992 updated body style used the “P72″ production code designation for both fleet/taxi and police models. From 1993–1998, the police car models of Crown Victorias were officially known as Crown Victoria P71s.(Note:Not officially true,as windows came equipped with Police interceptor decals.) Starting in 1999, the Crown Victoria equipped with the P71 package has been given the official name of Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. It is one of the most widely-used automobiles in North American police departments, and due to the “heavy duty” nature of the vehicle, is also used by many taxi companies. Since Chevrolet dropped the rear-drive Caprice, Ford has had a near-monopoly on the market for police cruisers because of a preference for V8 powered rear-drive cars in North America. In early 2006, DaimlerChrysler released a new police version of the Dodge Charger. General Motors also offers the Chevrolet Impala in a police package (named 9C1 and 9C3), albeit only in a V6-powered front-wheel drive form.

Although the Police Interceptor is usually not sold to the general public, these cars are widely available in the used car market once they are no longer needed for law enforcement or fleet duty. In compliance with most state laws in the US and provincial laws in Canada, used Police Interceptors are normally stripped of any police decals, radio and computer equipment and emergency lights by law enforcement agencies before being sold or auctioned on the civilian markets in Canada and the United States.

The 1998 model year was an upgrade in body styling over the previous 1992–1997 “aero” Crown Victorias. The 1998 police package P71 had a chrome grille, chrome door handle trim, chrome bumper strips and a chrome-trimmed flat black rear fascia with the “Crown Victoria” badge. The changes made in 1999 included a new “Police Interceptor” insignia on the rear fascia, a chrome-trimmed gloss black rear fascia, black door handle trim, black bumper strips and a gloss black slatted grille. For 2000, the rear fascia and taillights lost the chrome trim and the gloss black grille was dropped in favor of a flat black slatted grille. Further refinements were made in 2001, including removal of all trim on the plastic bumper pieces, and a new honeycomb-style grille, replacing the slat-style grille as is found on previous Crown Victorias and CVPIs.

2003 brought a minor redesign. The interior door panels and seats were freshened, with side-impact airbags becoming an option. The 2001–2006 CVPIs all look the same on the exterior; the way to tell the 2003+ cars from the 2001 and 2002 models is the wheels. The suspension, brakes, steering and frame all were re-designed for the 2003 model year. Because of the new underpinnings, the wheels for the newer cars have a much higher offset. The new wheels look almost flat, compared to the concave wheels on the older model years.

The 2004–2006 Police Interceptor are rated for 250 hp (186 kW) because of the addition of a new air intake system. This includes a new airbox that resembles the Mercury Marauder airbox (raised airbox lid, deeper bottom) with an integrated 80mm mass air flow (MAF) sensor that is part of the airbox lid. This allows for much more precise flow calibration and reduces the chances of air leakage. P71 zip tube (the flexible rubber hose between the throttle body and MAF outlet) is also used to reduce NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) as well as transfer air from the airbox to the throttle body with minimal flow resistance.

One can easily spot the 2005 model year from its rear-fender mounted whip antenna on the passenger side. This is the only year that the 1998+ CVPI had an external AM/FM antenna. Previous years and the 2006 model all have the antenna mounted in the rear glass.

Standard on the 2006 is a re-designed instrument cluster which now sports a tachometer and digital odometer, amongst other improvements. Kevlar-lined front doors, which might be useful as protective barriers during gun fights, are optional on the Crown Victoria Police Interceptors for the 2006 Model Year.

For 2008, the Crown Victoria is restricted to fleet-only sales, and all Panther platformed cars are now flex-fuel cars. The CVPI receives some interesting new options, such as the ability to have keyless entry.

There are rumors that a future replacement for the current CVPI (and the civilian Crown Victoria version) will be a vehicle based on the new Ford Interceptor concept car, due to its similar name and much bigger overall size and engine power.

The Ford Kuga is expected to go on sale in next year. It is expected that the Ford Kuga will roll out with petrol and turbo diesel options. There are no engine specifications available. The price has not been fixed too.

The interior is better than anything you’ll find in the US-market Escape, and yes, that shifter you see is connected to a 6-speed manual gearbox. A 134-horsepower (136 PS) turbo diesel lives under the bonnet, and both FWD and 4WD variants will be available.Stylish Ford Kuga crossover will be previewed production form ahead of sales launch in early 2008. Kuga is the latest showcase for Ford’s ‘kinetic design’. Impressive on-road driving dynamics with substantial off-road ability. One of the challenges of the Kuga development team was to give the vehicle Ford’s acknowledged driving quality while at the same time delivering substantial off-road ability.

Developed to deliver Ford driving quality while offering substantial off-road credentials, the Kuga will be available with a four-wheel-drive system capable of positively contributing to driving quality under normal conditions as well as giving a sportier dynamic ability.