Ford Motor Co. enlisted the help of police dog Kegan to literally pull the silk off its all-new Police Interceptor Utility. Watch video
CHICAGO - Ford Motor Co. enlisted the help of police dog Keegan to literally pull the silk off its all-new Police Interceptor Utility.
At the Chicago Auto Show on Thursday, the well-trained canine unleashed a new police vehicle that will be sold in 80 countries, as well as in U.S. municipalities near you. In fact, Ford says that since introducing its Police Interceptor models in 2012, it has claimed 55 percent of the U.S. law enforcement vehicle market.
The Police Interceptor Utility, pictured above, will come equipped with a 3.7L V-6 engine producing 304 horsepower and 279 lb.-ft. of torque. A 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 with 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque will also be available.
The Dearborn automaker said the vehicle was developed with input from its Ford Police Advisory Board, which focuses on the business of fighting crime.
"Our Police Interceptor Utility is the best-selling police vehicle in America because we have a unique relationship with our customers," said Jonathan Honeycutt, Ford North American marketing manager for Police Vehicles. "By listening to the Ford Police Advisory Board, we have engineered a vehicle that officers love."
The company first introduced its police fleet in 1950. Its Crown Victoria-model police cars dominated U.S. and Canadian municipalities' police departments in the late 1990s. The Crown Vic was cancelled in 2012 in favor of the current models.
Press preview days of the Chicago Auto Show are Thursday and Friday. The show, at McCormick Place, is open to the public Feb. 14-22.
David Muller is the automotive and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter