Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to serve and protect
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/police-emergency/" rel="tag">Police/Emergency</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility/"><img hspace="0" border="0" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/expy03opt.jpg" alt="Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Ford Police Interceptor Utility - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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When <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/ford">Ford</a> took the wraps off of its <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/taurus">Taurus</a>-based <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/police+interceptor">Polic e Interceptor sedan</a> earlier this year, we were told that a second, utility-oriented police pursuit vehicle would be coming down the pipeline. Enter the Police Interceptor Utility, based off the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/explorer">2011 Explorer</a> crossover. A <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/flex">Flex</a>-styled paddy wagon would have been cool, but the Explorer's higher ground clearance makes it more versatile for law enforcement officials who require all-terrain capability.<br />
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Unlike the sedan, which will be available with two different powertrains, the Explorer Interceptor only comes with Ford's 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6, delivering "at least 280" horsepower and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations are available, and it appears that the Explorer's terrain management system will not be offered on the Police Interceptor. The latest host of driver aids like curve control and Ford's AdvanceTrac Roll Stability Control are standard on the Interceptor Utility, as are larger brakes, a tougher suspension and 18-inch steel wheels.<br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility/#3315456"><img hspace="4" border="0" align="right" vspace="4" class="right border" alt="Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/interiorexploreropt.jpg" /></a>Inside, new seats have been fitted up front with reductions in side bolstering to accommodate an officer's utility belt, and the gear shifter is now mounted on the column in order to provide space for computer equipment in the center console. Much like the Taurus Interceptor, Ford specifically designed the spacing between the seats to ensure that existing police equipment can be carried over to the new vehicles without issue. Things aren't exactly luxurious in the rear seats (duh), but occupants out back do get their own climate control system (Ford says this is ideal for K9 units) as well as stab plates in the front seat backs to keep the driver and passenger safe.<br />
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Ford has also gone the extra step to rework some of the Explorer's interior functions to better suit police needs. The steering wheel buttons, for example, are remappable and can be programmed to operate a host of auxiliary functions (lights, sirens, etc.). What's more, Ford's SYNC system is on hand and can be used to voice-activate the different police communication and audio equipment.<br />
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Don't expect to see the Police Interceptor Utility out on the road until 2012 at the earliest. Ford says that production will begin in late 2011 alongside the sedan at the automaker's Chicago assembly plant. For now, check out our high-res galleries of both live and official images, and follow the jump for the presser.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility/">Ford Police Interceptor Utility</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility/#3315436"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordinterceptorutlty01hr_ thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility/#3315437"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordinterceptorutlty02hr_ thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility/#3315439"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordinterceptorutlty03hr_ thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility/#3315440"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordinterceptorutlty04hr_ thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility/#3315441"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordinterceptorutlty05hr_ thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility-live-shots/">Ford Police Interceptor Utility: Live Shots</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility-live-shots/#3315411"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordpiutilitylive000-1283286569_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility-live-shots/#3315412"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordpiutilitylive001_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility-live-shots/#3315413"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordpiutilitylive002_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility-live-shots/#3315414"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordpiutilitylive003_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-police-interceptor-utility-live-shots/#3315415"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/fordpiutilitylive004_thum bnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Live photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL</small></strong></em><br />
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[Source: Ford]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/01/ford-explorer-police-interceptor-utility-prepares-to-serve-and-protect/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to serve and protect</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/01/ford-explorer-police-interceptor-utility-prepares-to-serve-and-protect/">Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to serve and protect</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/01/ford-explorer-police-interceptor-utility-prepares-to-serve-and-protect/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19614081/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/01/ford-explorer-police-interceptor-utility-prepares-to-serve-and-protect/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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