Ford F-150 Police Responder – laying down the law

A police car needs to command presence, which is exactly what the newly-revealed 2018 Ford F-150 Police Responder is capable of doing.

Ford says the vehicle is the industry’s first pursuit-rated pick-up truck, and is well equipped to ensure it is up to the task when operating in rural environments patrolled by sheriff’s departments, border patrol operations and fish and game authorities.

For starters, there’s an upgraded front stabiliser bar and police-calibrated brake system with upgraded calipers and pad friction material to provide improved braking and handling. The truck rides on 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped with chunky all-terrain tyres as well.

On the exterior, the F-150 Police Responder is fitted with the usual array of sirens and lights, along with a front bulbar should it need to deliver justice a little more personally. Underneath, the truck has underbody skid plates to protect it from curbs and rough terrain, important in rural settings.

The police pick-up is based on the F-150 FX4 and comes with a SuperCrew body for maximum practicality – largest passenger volume, payload and towing capacity of any pursuit-rated police vehicle – the last part comes courtesy of a standard class IV hitch that allows for a towing capability of 3,175 kg.

Inside, there’s now column shifter instead of one mounted on the centre console, police-calibrated speedometer, heavy-duty cloth front seats with slim bolsters and anti-stab plates, vinyl rear seating and heavy-duty vinyl flooring that makes clean-ups easier.

Under the hood, the F-150 Police Responder is powered by a 3.5 litre EcoBoost V6 with 375 hp and 637 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a SelectShift 10-speed automatic transmission with a four-wheel drive system, and the pick-up will hit a top speed of 161 km/h. To support the many electrical devices in the car, there’s also a high-output 240-amp alternator, plus engine hour and engine idle hour meters.

The F-150 Police Responder is one of many law enforcement vehicles offered by Ford, and it joins a broad line-up that includes the industry-first Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility, Special Service F-150 and Expedition, Special Service Police Sedan and Transit Prisoner Transport Vehicle.

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