Earlier this year, Ford rolled out a Fusion-based hybrid police interceptor for quieter, greener high-speed chases. Take away the bullbar, hide the lights inside the windshield for a more covert look and swap the black steelies for five-spoke alloy rims and you end up with this: The Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan, which really rolls off the tongue.
The SSPIHS, as we’re going to call it from here on out, isn’t meant to be a chase vehicle. Unlike the hybrid interceptor or the new F-150 Police Responder, this car isn't pursuit-rated -- which means it hasn't been evaluated by the Michigan State and LA County police for robustness, grip, braking, etc. Instead, Ford has designed it for police and fire chiefs, supervisors, detectives and other officials whose job descriptions do not involve high-speed chases. In the Detroit area, at least, we usually see these personnel in Taurus-based vehicles that seem to spend most of their on-duty time idling in front of official buildings or at fire or crime scenes. This new hybrid promises to do the same thing without burning gasoline; Ford says it can go 21 miles on electricity alone -- and reach speeds of 85 mph -- thanks to its 7.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.
Total range exceeds 500 miles, but we suspect this sort of vehicle sees only a fraction of that on a typical shift. Then, when the shift is over, the SSPIHS can be recharged at the station in just 2.5 hours using a 240-volt level-two charger (it can also be topped off from 120-volt outlet if charging times are less of a concern).
Here's a non-rendered photo of the car. With lights off, it should blend in with traffic.
Though it looks less mean than the interceptor version, this vehicle isn’t just a Fusion plug-in with a special badge. The interior is ruggedized for constant use, with heavy-duty cloth seats (complete with anti-stab plates) up front and vinyl seats and flooring in the back. There are built-in mounting points for gear, and options include a spotlight and a trunk vault. Additionally, there’s a “dark car” feature that lets you completely dim all of the interior lights, including the instrument cluster, if you’re on surveillance duty.
This thing is nowhere near as cool as a V8-powered, rear-wheel drive Caprice PPV (or even an old Crown Vic), but sometimes, the times call for frugality. Ford has not announced pricing for the SSPIHS (orders open in December and sales start next summer), but depending on the sticker price, these things could save municipalities -- and thus, taxpayers -- some serious money on fuel.
