Chevy Supports Your Local Sheriff

New Zeta platform Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle will only be available to law enforcement

Not a rebadged G8

DENVER – An all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. It’s a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a host of specialized equipment and features.

With that press release from the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in Denver, Colorado, the Chevrolet Division of General Motors has announced that it’s back in the game of supplying vehicles to America’s Finest.

The new vehicle, which brings back the Caprice name (albeit in Caprice PPV nomenclature), will not be based on any current “civilian” vehicle sold in North America (the wheelbase of the PPV is 118.5” as compared to 114.7” for the G8).

“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.”

Highlights

According to the General, the new Caprice PPV will help law enforcement officers fulfill their mission by offering the following amenities:

•    Powerful 6.0L 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
•    Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety
•    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
•    Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt

Firmly planted

As the last point would indicate, particular attention was paid to the front seats of the new Caprice. Foam density has been designed to conform to the shape of various items found on an equipment belt. Any officer, thus equipped, will still be able to rest correctly on the seatback surface.

“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. That also increases the longevity of the trim cover surface.”

Power to the pavement

The Caprice PPV will be equipped with a 6 liter V-8 with an estimated 355 hp and 384 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission performance-calibrated for law enforcement duty. Other standard features include:

•    High-output alternator
•    Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers
•    Standard 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps
•    Large, four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads
•    Heavy-duty suspension components
•    Police-calibrated stability control system
•    Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.

Note: for those of you out there hoping to spot one early in order to avoid the long arm of the law, an “undercover street appearance package” (order #9C3) will be available as an option.

All images courtesy General Motors

Tags: caprice, caprice police patrol vehicle, caprice ppv, Chevrolet, chevrolet caprice, chevrolet caprice police car, chevrolet caprice police patrol vehicle, general motors