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Automotive Industry
AUTOS: Caprice For Police Readied For Production
Rear-wheel drive sedan is specially equipped for law-enforcement; last Caprice police car was built in 1996.
Bob Golfen  |  Posted October 05, 2009   Denver, CO
The Chevy Caprice police car returns after an absence of more than a decade. (Photo: Chevrolet)
Chevrolet Caprice rejoins the police force with a new, rear-drive sedan specially built for the rigors of police work and available nationwide in 2011.

Chevrolet executives unveiled the Caprice for police today at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver. Built off the long-wheelbase version of the Holden Caprice from GM’s subsidiary in Australia, the new entry will be available with V-6 or V-8 engines and a wide variety of special equipment.

The Holden chassis was most recently used for the highly regarded Pontiac G8, which will go away with the impending demise of the Pontiac division.

The last Caprice police cars were produced in 1996 when GM discontinued its large, body-on-frame sedans, ceding the police-car market to Ford Crown Victoria, which has become ubiquitous among police and security agencies. The Chevrolet Tahoe SUV and front-drive Impala have been offered as police vehicles in recent years.

“The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement,” said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas.”

The Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) rear-drive platform, which also underpins the new Chevy Camaro, rides on a 118.5-inch wheelbase and includes independent rear suspension for better handling performance.

Among the special equipment supplied in Caprice PPV are:

• 6-liter V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year.

• Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment.

• Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference.

• Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology.

• Heavy-duty suspension, alternator and brakes.

• Police-calibrated stability control.

• Oil coolers for the engine and transmission.

• Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt.

“The Chevrolet Caprice PPV’s seats represent a revolution in comfort and utility for officers who spend long hours in their car,” said Bob Demick, lead seat-design manager. “The shape also enhances entry and egress, making it easier for officers to exit the vehicle quickly.

“The seatback bolsters, for example, have been purposefully contoured to help pocket the equipment on the belt, which includes the gun, Taser and handcuffs, which rest comfortably in the sculpted lower bolsters.”

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