Ford has said goodbye to the Crown Victoria, and now Vancouver Police have, too.
The department has been narrowing the field on a new make and model for what it called "its aging fleet", and has landed on the Dodge Charger. The VPD says the Charger will be more fuel efficient, reducing consumption by about 25 per cent compared to the Crown Vic, and will also reduce its total fleet emissions by 32 per cent every year.
Vancouver Police say the transition will be complete by 2017.
The average age of the force's 176 total vehicles is five and a half years and the majority are currently Crown Victoria Interceptors, marked and unmarked.
"When Ford discontinued the Crown Victoria, the VPD had to look for something new," the department said in a press release, issued by Constable Brian Montague. "As well, the graphics presently on the VPD cars are not compatible with other vehicles, so a new design was also required.
"The winning vehicle was the Dodge Charger, with the highly efficient 3.6-litre engine. It will also feature new safety features, such as cutting-edge emergency lighting and a "rumbler" siren, which projects a deep baritone burst to further gain attention at those critical moments."
Chargers have become popular police car choices over the last several years in North America. Chrysler's "Charger Fleet" vehicle has also been granted prime location on its website.
The irony, of course, is that the Dodge Charger's original form – which peaked from 1968 to 1970 – is still largely famous for its role as The General Lee in the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard, where it was used primarily to outrun Georgia police.
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California Highway Patrol uses a Dodge Charger (credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Photos: The Dodge Charger 'Fleet' (Chrysler's website)
