Police-only cruiser will be coming to a speed trap near you next year. Can a hot-rodded civilian version be far behind?
This is not what you want to see in your rear view mirror!
Chevrolet finally has the right stuff to make an impact in the lucrative law enforcement fleet marketplace that had for years been owned by Ford. The 2011 Caprice Patrol Vehicle PPV) is a full-size, V-8-powered, rear-wheel-drive sedan that should set a new performance standard for production cruisers. The 6.0-liter, 355 horsepower V-8 bolts up to a sport-shift-calibrated six-speed automatic transmission. It is ideally suited for jurisdictions that include high-speed interstates.
Hot rodders have always been fascinated by Police-only models and Chevrolet, like other carmakers; have been supplying special options and models for decades. Those options usually included with heavy-duty chassis/suspension components as well as interior appointments that make the conversion to Police equipment easy. In 1959 Chevrolet offered a Police-only model that really appealed to performance enthusiasts. It was a Biscayne powered by a high-performance 348-inch that was good for 135 mph. In 1965 Chevrolet raised the bar and offered law enforcement agencies special model powered by a single-four-barrel 396 big-block. That continued into the muscle-car-rich 1960s.
"Plain wrapper" version is going to surprise a lot of people!
The 2011 rear-wheel-drive Caprice PPV will join the front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Impala and the Chevrolet Tahoe PPV, making Chevrolet the only brand to offer a full line of police vehicles. Chevrolet will begin taking orders for the Caprice PPV Detective Package (9C3) in October 2010. Vehicles will hit the streets in April 2011. Ordering for the police package (9C1) will begin in January 2011 and the vehicles go on duty next June.
The all-new 2011 Caprice PPV features segment leading interior volume (112 cubic feet) provides a spacious interior, providing officers with more comfort for long hours on patrol. In addition, it has specially designed front seats sculptured to allow for gun belts. The seats are made with high wear material and have a seat back security panel. There’s also an eight-way power driver’s seat with reclining back and lumbar control, featuring quick-adjust manual fore and aft movement for
additional comfort.
Full dress model ready to serve & protect!
Thanks to rear-wheel-drive and a 6.0-liter V-8 with 355 horsepower and 384 foot pounds of torque, it delivers best-in-class top speed and zero-to-60 acceleration (under-six seconds). Also standard are fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability. A V-6 engine also will be available beginning in the 2012 model year. In addition, the six-speed transmission has sport shift
calibrations for performance driving. A 2.92 rear with limited slip is standard.
Designed for Police use and not converted from a consumer model, the Caprice offers a full-width prisoner partition and front seat only head curtain with side impact airbags. Rear seat head curtain side impact airbags are available. StabiliTrak, GM’s electronic stability control technology, provides a “police performance” mode for enhanced stability during high-speed driving.
Chevy’s Caprice PPV has an overall length of 204.2 inches, an overall width of 74.75 inches and an overall height of 58.66 inches. Efficient packaging allows a spacious interior, without adding bulk to the exterior. New 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps and wheel covers are standard.
Designed for five-passenger seating, the Caprice’s upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without concern of air bag deployment interference. A certified speedometer (160-mph certified analog) includes trip odometer, warning lights and multifunction display with Engine Oil Life monitor. A Driver Information Center with a “Trap Speed” feature captures speed when tracking/pacing other vehicles. An auxiliary battery to power police equipment and full-size spare tire under a flat load surface are optional. Vinyl rear seat and floor covering are also available.
“Chevrolet’s history with law enforcement spans across almost as many years as the brand itself and we’re ready to see the Caprice PPV report for active duty,” said Brian Small, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations.
For more information about the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV, please visit www.chevroletcapriceppv.com