2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car

Be On The Lookout: All-New Chevy Caprice Police Car Reports For Duty In 2011

An all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. It's a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a host of specialized equipment and features.

Chevrolet made the announcement at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado. The Caprice PPV will be available for ordering next year and will hit the streets in early 2011.

'The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement,' said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. 'We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas.'

Vice President, Global Chevrolet Brand Brent Dewar added, 'Along with Impala and Tahoe, the Caprice PPV gives agencies a greater range of choices for police and special service vehicles that are all available from Chevrolet.'

Únlike other police cars on the market, the Caprice PPV is not based on existing 'civilian' passenger-car model sold in North America. It has been developed in key areas specifically for police duty, containing modern equipment and features:

• Powerful 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year

• Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety

• Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment

• Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference

• Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology

• Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt

The front seats are sculpted to 'pocket' the equipment belt, which greatly increases the comfort for a great range of police officer sizes. The foam density of the seatback and cushion insert surfaces are designed to conform to the shape of an equipment belt's various items, too, allowing the officer's back to rest properly on the seatback surface.

'The Chevrolet Caprice PPV's seats represent a revolution in comfort and utility for officers who spend long hours in their car,' said Bob Demick, lead seat design manager. 'The shape also enhances entry and egress, making it easier for officers to exit the vehicle quickly. The seatback bolsters, for example, have been purposefully contoured to help pocket the equipment on the belt, which includes the gun, Taser and handcuffs, which rest comfortably in the sculpted lower bolsters. That also increases the longevity of the trim cover surface.'

Along with comfort, the materials used in the seats were also carefully selected. High-wear materials were chosen to stand up to long hours of everyday use, while breathability, long-term durability and ease of cleaning were also important criteria.

Engineers worked on several iterations of the seat, testing a couple of versions in the field to get real-world feedback from police officers, who used prototype seats in their cruisers for a month. Their input helped determine the final design.

Class-leading space

The Caprice PPV is based on GM's global rear-drive family of vehicles that also underpins the Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture – 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) – along with a four-wheel independent suspension that delivers responsive high-performance driving characteristics that are crucial in some police scenarios.

Caprice PPV's long wheelbase also contributes to exceptional spaciousness. Compared to the primary competition, its advantages include:

• A larger interior volume – 112 cubic feet / 3,172 liters – than the Ford Crown Victoria, including nearly 4 inches (101 mm) more rear legroom

• The barrier between the front seat and rear seat is positioned farther rearward, allowing for full front-seat travel and greater recline for officer comfort

• At 18 cubic feet (535 liters) free space (beyond battery located in trunk), the Caprice's trunk volume is large enough to accommodate a full-size spare tire under a flat load surface in the trunk storage area.

The Caprice's 6.0-liter V-8 is rated at an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) with an estimated 384 lb-ft of torque. It is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission that is performance-calibrated for police duty. Additional, police car-specific powertrain and vehicle system features include:

• High-output alternator

• Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers

• Standard 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps

• Large, four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads

• Heavy-duty suspension components

• Police-calibrated stability control system

• Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.

A host of complementary features are also offered, including special equipment packages such as spotlights; lockouts for the power windows and locks; and an 'undercover' street-appearance package (9C3).

To enable more room for interior equipment, the standard radio can be relocated to the trunk, allowing for an in-dash, touch-screen computer to be used.

Caprice on patrol: A brief history

The full-size Chevrolets joined the force in 1976. All Caprice police cars – including the new, 2011 model – have carried the 9C1 order code. Here's a quick look back at Chevys on patrol:

1959 – Chevy Biscayne police model capable of 135 mph with specially tuned, police-only version of the 348-cubic-inch V-8 engine

1965 – The new 'big-block' 396 engine is offered in Biscayne and Bel Air police cars, making them among the most powerful on patrol; a 427 V-8 was added in 1966

1976 – The 9C1 order code is given for the first time to a full-size Chevy police car package. It carries the Impala name.

1977 – The full-size Chevy is downsized. The 9C1 police package is retained, as is the Impala name.

1986 – The Caprice name replaces Impala, as the car is updated for the mid- and late-1980s – including the option of a powerful, 5.7-liter small-block V-8.

1991 – A new-generation Caprice is launched, with the 9C1 police car still on the beat.

1994 – The 260-horsepower (194 Nm) LT1 V-8 engine is offered in the Caprice 9C1, making it one of the fastest full-size police cars ever offered.

1996 – Caprice police car production ends, as GM's full-size, body-on-frame car architecture is discontinued.

2011 – The Caprice PPV returns to active duty.

Source - Chevrolet

Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle Out to Arrest Competition This Weekend

Chevrolet's all-new Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) takes on the competition at the 2011 Police Vehicle Evaluation Program this weekend in Lansing, where the Michigan State Police Precision Driving Únit will run the vehicles through top speed, acceleration, braking, high-speed handling and other tests.

Hitting the streets next spring, the Caprice joins the front-wheel drive Impala PPV and Tahoe PPV, making Chevrolet the only manufacturer to offer a full range of police vehicles.



A unique Performance Algorithm Liftfoot (PAL) calibration, within Sport shift mode, allows the transmission to 'understand' the driving conditions and select the appropriate gear - even through tight turns - and provides the required engine torque.

With unmatched interior space and sculpted front seats to 'pocket' an officer's equipment belt, the Caprice PPV allows officers to do their jobs effectively with maximum comfort.

Source - Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV Takes the Streets

Georgia and Iowa among early customers of new police patrol vehicle
Forsyth County, Ga. Sheriff Ted Paxton saw the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) at several events last year and was impressed enough to be among early law enforcement customers. The PPVs began patrol in Cumming, Ga. in May.

'With its emphasis on the ergonomically designed seats for officer comfort, and enhanced safety features, the Caprice is a vehicle that is made for police work,' said Paxton. 'We've had our vehicles for a month, and we're sold. This will be a worthwhile investment.'

After the vehicles' first month on patrol, the sheriff's office plans to replace its current fleet of approximately 175 other patrol vehicles with Caprice PPVs.

Paxton has company. Dennis Hogan, Fleet Services manager in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, also pulled the trigger.

'We view the police vehicle as an extended office for our officers,' Hogan §äid. 'We chose the Caprice, because it delivers optimal officer operational space, trunk and storage space, and generally provides our officers the most-suitable operating environment.'

Equipped with segment-leading interior volume (112 cubic feet / 3,172 liters) and specially designed front seats sculpted to allow space for gun belts, the rear-wheel-drive Caprice PPV provides officers the comfort they need during their long hours in their mobile office.

Police agencies across the country told Chevrolet they need a powerful rear-wheel-drive vehicle that offers performance, safety and comfort.

'The Chevrolet Caprice PPV is our response to what our nation's police officers said they needed to safely and effectively perform their jobs,' said Brian Small, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. 'In the design process of this vehicle, we polled many of our customers to gain insight. Thus far, the results seem to speak for themselves and prove that customer feedback is critical to meet and exceed expectations.'

Armed with a powerful 6.0L V-8 engine, 355 horsepower and 384 lb-ft torque, Caprice PPV has best-in-class top speed and zero-to-60 acceleration (sub six seconds). The vehicle also offers a segment exclusive front-seat-only head curtain air bag, which allows for installation of a full-width prisoner partition. Additionally, StabiliTrak, GM's electronic stability control technology, provides a 'police performance' mode for enhanced stability during high-speed driving to help ensure the safety of the PPV occupants.

For more information click on the 2012 Chevrolet Impala Police. For fleet-related questions, join the GM Fleet and Commercial Customer Service LinkedIn group.

Source - Chevrolet