http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1109808_ford-fusion-becomes-first-police-rated-hybrid-car#image=100598797

 

Thoughts?

 

The NYPD used hybrids heavily up until about 2 years ago. The maintenance on them proved to be too much, as they were always in the shop. Now almost all of them are replaced with Ford Explorers and Ford Tauruses. 

It'll be interesting to see how these Hybrids hold up, I just can't imagine departments as abusive to their cars (as the LAPD are) using them for heavy patrol work, considering that the LAPD run their cars 24/7 for up to a 10+ year lifespan. 

That's about a good plan as disarming the NYPD.

Glad I fly rather than drive most patrols ..lol

I feel they will be just side vehicles for heavily congested areas, like downtown NYC/Chicago, maybe LA highways/Airports. Greatly doubt departments would change 100% to hybrids. We are still expecting 1 more additional Hybrid police vehicle from Ford to be built at the Chicago Assembly Plant. Probably a Hybrid Utility. Either way, if price is right, more departments may opt for a few. 

Spoiler

 

Honestly.. I like it. It would be a good replacement for this:

 

Spoiler

 

Edited April 10, 20179 yr by iansonwheels

I don't understand the knob-gear shifter located below the center dashboard. That makes absolutely no sense for quick vehicle exiting and quick vehicle entry/acceleration. A gear shifter on the steering wheel, like the Taurus and Explorer, would make more sense. 

i love it 

I feel it will be faster, but we may never know. I think they did that to make the center area less cluttered. Notice only push button start. The officer can just shift the car to Park and walk out. Some vehicles can automatically (after a few minutes) shut off, which no doubt they may implement in these police vehicles. And yes, theoretically, it can still be stolen, but once its shuts off/runs out of fuel, then that's it, it can't be start-up again without the keyfob. 

Def a interesting look and design to them.

3 hours ago, Kode103 said:

but once its shuts off/runs out of fuel, then that's it, it can't be start-up again without the keyfob. 

I don't think key fobs should be used for police vehicles. More like a safety feature of the Crown Victoria, where you can take the key out and leave the car on, but anything you do after that without the key in the ignition will shut the car off (is this feature present in the Ford Police Interceptors?).

I've got a cool video for you guys, it's from the official Ford Youtube channel.

 

"The Evolution of Ford Police Vehicles", watch the whole thing! 

 

 

About the knob gear thing, I think that could be almost as effective as the steering wheel gear shifter. 

Whatever fuel savings that will be made, will get ate up by higher maintenance costs and repairs.

 

They also keep throwing around the word "pursuit", but ehh...I'm surprised if it really is pursuit rated.

 

Color me unconvinced. Looks like a gimmick car that some more progressive urban departments are going to get behind and say: "Look how forward thinking we are!"

Edited April 12, 20179 yr by TylerF

The Fusion itself is pretty cramped on the inside, and I imagine that is only compounded by having equipment mounted and a vest + belt on.  I don't like that the gear selector is that rotary knob - it may be blocked by mounted equipment and you can't really use it without staring directly at it as far as I know.  I'd much rather it have a gear selector on the column. 

 

Reliability remains a concern as well in terms of how well the hybrid drivetrain will stand up to urban policing.  Though saving gas when extensively idling is always a nice proposition. 

Yeah, I agree. Although some say the Fusion interior is slightly more cavernous than the Taurus, I still don't think it's necessarily going to catch on. The Departments have spoken, the Ford Explorer is the best selling police vehicle for a reason: interior space. 

Okay, from what I've seen, it's all cars and SUVs. What about trucks, what's wrong with a good ol' fashioned Ford raptor?

All government vehicles should be going green ASAP, and manufacturers need to step up their fucking game.

1 hour ago, Riley24 said:

All government vehicles should be going green ASAP, and manufacturers need to step up their fucking game.

 

What, you mean like electric cars?

19 hours ago, TheSandwichStealer said:

Okay, from what I've seen, it's all cars and SUVs. What about trucks, what's wrong with a good ol' fashioned Ford raptor?

 

USBP uses Raptors, as well as a few State agencies.

22 hours ago, TheSandwichStealer said:

 

What, you mean like electric cars?

Yeah. Why shouldn't they?