Look out, Ford. That's a Dodge Charger police car in your mirror. DaimlerChrysler has announced its Dodge division will begin marketing a Dodge Charger police car.
Police departments around the country have been looking for an alternative to the Ford Crown Vic Interceptor, which has long held a virtual monopoly in the police car market. But more than 20 police officers have died when their Crown Vics burst into flames following rear-end collisions.
Dodge showed off its new patrol car at the New York Auto Show last week. Besides the usual police equipment -- heavy duty front seat, no rear-seat door handles -- the police Charger has beefed-up brakes and a 340-horsepower Hemi engine.
Chrysler was once big in the police market. In the 1960s through the 1980s, the Dodge Coronet and Plymouth Fury were popular with police departments. The company tried to get back into the market with a police package on the Intrepid a few years ago but police officers didn't feel comfortable with its front-wheel-drive.
Dodge will also offer a police version of its Magnum station wagon. Both models will be available later this year.
Ford has taken a hard line with police departments' complaints about the Crown Vic's flammability. It has denied there is a problem and lately has threatened police departments that have joined class action lawsuits against Ford, saying it won't sell them any more police cars until they withdraw from the lawsuits.
Illinois police departments surrendered to Ford but Arkansas' attorney general vows his state will fight on.
