NYPD adds muscle to its car fleet

[Midnight Mike]

2006 Dodge Charger can hit top speed of 150 mph
The Associated Press

Updated: 3:12 p.m. PT Aug 14, 2006
NEW YORK - The New York Police Department souped up its car fleet on Monday by adding a new version of a classic muscle car — the 2006 Dodge Charger. Top speed: 150 mph.

The police highway unit will test drive 15 new Chargers featuring V-8 engines, officials said. The rest will have V-6s and hit city streets in the five boroughs.

If they pass inspection, they could replace hundreds of squad cars in the NYPD’s 3,000-vehicle patrol fleet, now dominated by Ford Crown Victorias and Chevrolet Impalas.

“We’re looking to diversify,” said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

In an analysis by Michigan State Police, Chargers equipped with a V-8 engine had the quickest acceleration (6.52 seconds to 60 mph) and fastest lap time (150 mph) of any police vehicle tested.

The Charger appeared in 1966. Over the next several years, it made an impact on the stock car circuit and on television, starring as the General Lee, an orange 1969 model, in “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

A Web site for the car’s manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group, lists the civilian model’s starting price at $22,995. Modified police models — outfitted with fortified front seats, no rear-door handles and heftier brakes — typically are sold to law enforcers at a discount.

[T-Bird76]

That will look hot in the NYPD's colors! Can't wait to see one stop us at Plainview Park, LOL

[mirrodie]

dude, I'll be running over to take pics of the car while they run my ID.

and when they say I cant , i'll say REALLY? I BOUGHT THAT CAR WITH MY TAX DOLLARS BABY!



Ohhhh I cant wait!

-meshuggenah

[moose135]

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/88243255-M.jpg

Can you say "Hemi"? :D :D :D

[hiss srq]

Now THAT looks like a Police Car

[mirrodie]

Am I the only one to see the irony?

A Dodge Charger as a cop car?

So how would that pan out in Hazzard County??

[Mateo]

The Philadelphia PD now has the Chargers, too. I saw one the last time I was at PHL about a month ago.

[Jonesbeach]

Here's a picture of one:

http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/03/untitled9xr.jpg

Steve

[PhilDernerJr]

Wow. Good find on that pic!!

I remember the NYPD Highway Unit had a mid-80s Mustang in the Blue colors (before the current white scheme).

[USAF Pilot 07]

Damn, that's a sick cop car!

[PhilDernerJr]

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/pix/vehicles/mustang.jpg

[Mellyrose]

I saw the NYPD one in the Metro paper this morning. It's like a "futuristic" movie from like 1992, when they show cop cars in something other than the "Caprice" design.

[PhilDernerJr]

I'd have to see how much they spent on their Crown Vic's, but I just wonder how useful it will be. NYC does not have that many high speed chases, and in a dense city, they often call off a chase to prevent a bad accident.

We would probably save a lot of money if a majority of the fleet were for more reliable fuel-efficient cars. I can't imagine was the NYPD's gas bill is.

[hiss srq]

Speaking of the good old stang as a cop car I could swear Robo Cop had a mustang for a crusier.

[moose135]

Speaking of the good old stang as a cop car I could swear Robo Cop had a mustang for a crusier.

Don't know about the sequels, but he drove a Ford Taurus in the original.

[moose135]

I'd have to see how much they spent on their Crown Vic's, but I just wonder how useful it will be. NYC does not have that many high speed chases, and in a dense city, they often call off a chase to prevent a bad accident.

We would probably save a lot of money if a majority of the fleet were for more reliable fuel-efficient cars. I can't imagine was the NYPD's gas bill is.

Only the Highway units will be V-8 powered, and while I agree most high speed chases should be avoided (you can't outrun a radio), you do need a car with some grunt to go get the bad guys. [One of my favorite movie lines, from "Vanishing Point": "You can't catch him in no dog-pie Chevy, it takes a Mopar to catch a Mopar!"]

The precinct sector cars will have a V-6. Wouldn't want anything smaller than that for day-to-day police work.

Looking at the Michigan State Police vehicle evaluation report (they test all the "police package" cars the manufacturers offer), the Charger with the V-6 gets 19mpg in "city" mileage, the V-8 Charger gets 17mpg, the Crown Vic's get 16mpg. The smaller Chevy Impala matches the V-6 Charger's 19mpg.

(Can you tell I'm geeky about this stuff :D )

[Ari707]

the highway police in Italy have a Lamborghini

[mirrodie]

actaully what would be cool is one cop car in the General Lee Scheme....

[USAF Pilot 07]

I'm pretty sure all current Impalas and Crown Vics are 8 cylinder cars, especially based on the fuel figures Moose posted.

I think the Chargers will be very suitable replacements to the Crown Vics and Chargers...

[moose135]

From today's Newsday:

http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2006-08/24878293.jpg

[emshighway]

You should be able to see some if you go to NYPD Shop 4 in Maspeth. (58 Street between BQE & LIE).

Several years ago the Queens DA gave Highway two mustangs they confiscated from drag racers on cross bay boulevard. The State Troopers have a nice corvette which I think is being used on Long Island now.

[cancidas]

i thought the state still used camaros..