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By Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Senior Editor, Autos, Travel and Lifestyle
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New police interceptor SUVs will be delivered to cities across the U.S. this month, Ford Pro, the commercial vehicles arm of Ford Motor Company announced this week. It comes with a standard hybrid powertrain. The model is the only hybrid police vehicle on the market in the U.S.
"At Ford Pro, creating purpose-built vehicles with officer safety in mind, vehicle durability while on patrol, and optimal performance during pursuit situations are core to how we design and develop our police vehicles," Lindsey Bertino, Ford Pro police vehicle marketing manager told Newsweek.
"The 2025 Police Interceptor Utility hybrid option wraps these core attributes with the added benefits of reducing costs associated with fuel and maintenance, which is a win-win for agencies and taxpayers all while lowering emissions," she said.
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The 2025 Ford Police Interceptor Utility (PIU) SUV is built with the Ford Explorer model as its base. Added safety enhancements and specialty fitments that are specially chosen for police work take the place of traditional comforts and conveniences a family on the go may desire in their Explorer.
It comes in colors the traditional Explorer is painted in, as well as some unavailable to that model including: Oxford White, Agate Black, Carbonized Grey, Iconic Silver Metallic, Silver Grey Metallic, Sterling Grey Metallic, Dark Blue, Royal Blue, Vermillion Red, Kodiak Brown Metallic, Arizona Beige Metallic, Light Blue Metallic and Police Green.
Eighteen-inch painted aluminum wheels are available for a surcharge, but will have late availability, like some of the paint options.
Safety features specifically designed for policing come standard including Police Perimeter Alert, a technology that detects moving treats around a vehicle and automatically activates the rear camera, sounds a chime, rolls up windows and locks doors.
Police Engine Idle technology allows officers to exit in a hurry with their keys in hand while the SUV continues to run, locked. It is an option that costs about $250 per vehicle.
Agencies are able to add ballistic panels to the SUV's front door panels that provide level III+ or IV+ protection, depending on the buyer's choice. These panels are not bulletproof. Level III+ panels can help resist many handgun and non-armor-piercing buttlets, up to .30 caliber. Level IV+ panels provide protection against up to .30-caliber armor-piercing rifle ammunition.
Opting for the panels adds approximately $4,000 to $7,000 to the overall cost of the vehicle.
With the new Ford PIU, police offers get standard driver assist technologies traditionally relegated to Explorer like automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, reverse braking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking.
The pursuit-rated vehicle's standard hybrid powertrain is made up of a 3.3-liter V6 engine with an all-wheel drive hybrid system. It delivers 318 horsepower (hp) and 322 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque for officers to utilize.
Ford estimates that the hybrid system has the potential to save police departments from paying for 838 gallons of fuel per year, per vehicle. That is a projected cost reduction of up approximately $17,500 over a six-year ownership period with gasoline costs calculated by Ford at $3.50 per gallon.
Many police departments, cities and counties purchase fuel in bulk in an effort to keep costs down, and may not pay traditional gas station rates.
A 3.3-liter V6 gasoline power plant that offers 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque is available and though not standard, shaves over $2,000 off the price of the standard model.
The automaker's turbocharged 3.0-liter gasoline engine is also available, offering 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque for just under $1,000 more than the standard hybrid vehicle.
None of the SUVs come equipped with automatic stop-start technology, which cuts the engine when a model is idling in a bid to save on fuel.
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The models are equipped with Manual Pursuit Mode, activated via a button on the steering wheel, that allows officers to put the vehicle into a high-performance tuned drive mode. The feature, "improves engine response, provides more aggressive shifting, improves gear selection and maintains lower gears for more responsive acceleration," a Ford spokesperson told Newsweek.
Police Dark Car mode allows for dimmed and turned off interior and exterior illumination to aid police officers in their covert actions.
Ford is bringing some Explorer technology to the PIUs, equipping them with standard 12.3-inch digital instrument clusters with a certifiable speedometer and connectivity that allows for over-the-air technology upgrades. That modem technology also allows the PIUs to be connected to the Ford Pro Suite of fleet management software.
Customization opportunities are built into the PIU's DNA. It comes with four remappable steering wheel switches, which allow police departments to connect technologies and equipment like lights, sirens and K9 door release functionality.
A lockable vault that allows for secure storage within the vehicle is available for a little over $200. Agencies can also add a 12.1-inch integrated computer screen for around $3,000.
The Police Accessory Independent Timed-Release Output (PAITRO) is a two-part security system for the PIU's cargo area. A front seat occupant pushes the overhead release button and has 45 seconds to walk to the liftgate and press a second button to make it open.
Ford is pricing the PIU to start around $48,000. Most police departments spend thousands of dollars more uplifting their model with specially selected lights, siren, decal, window and computer equipment.
The PIU hybrid is expected to have late production availability.
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