NEW YORK -- The police car market might be on the verge of becoming interesting again.
It has long been dominated by the Ford Crown Victoria, which accounts for 85 percent of all cop cars sold in the USA. But two new entries from Dodge could shake things up.
Dodge said last week at the auto show here that it will roll out a police car version of Charger. That's in addition to the law-enforcement edition of Magnum announced last year.
Charger could be a serious competitor to Crown Victoria. Police have opted to stick with the Crown Vic despite high-profile issues with the sedan. Nearly 20 police officers have died after their Crown Vics were struck from behind at high speeds, resulting in fiery explosions, according to accident reports.
Ford recently won a lawsuit in Illinois brought by police departments worried that the cars were unsafe, but it still faces lawsuits in several other states.
Ford has taken steps to make the car safer by adding a plastic shield to protect the gas tank and installing a fire-suppression device.
DaimlerChrysler, Dodge's parent, has a history with police cars. From the 1960s to the early 1980s, Chrysler's share of that market ranged from 45 percent to 60 percent, with cars such as Dodge Coronet and Plymouth Fury. After a 12-year hiatus, Dodge got back into the market with Intrepid.
But the front-wheel-drive car had just 4 percent of the approximately 70,000-vehicle market before Dodge phased it out in 2003.
Police say they like the Crown Victoria for several reasons: It's big enough to haul around all of their stuff, including a roomy front seat that can hold laptops and papers. It's rear-wheel drive, which gives officers a feeling of better control when driving at high speeds and going around corners.
Fleet managers like it because most of their other cars are Crown Vics, so they can swap parts when needed.
For the police Charger, Dodge added enhanced brakes and a 340-horsepower Hemi engine.
The company also engineered the car with two tests in mind, one by the California Highway Patrol and one by the Michigan State Police. Both agencies put police cars through the rigors, and the publicized results are influential. The cars will be tested later this year.
"With all of this, we know we'll hit the sweet spot," said Eric Ridenour, executive vice president of product development for Chrysler Group. The Magnum and Charger police cars will be available later this year.
While Magnum, a sport wagon, will likely attract some business, Dodge has the best shot at capturing some of this market with Charger, because police departments tend to fill more than 75 percent of their fleets with sedans.
Still, Magnum helps expand the brand's image as tough and aggressive.
John Alley, fleet administrator for the San Diego Police Department, said he's looking forward to seeing some competition in the market. All 550 of his fleet's sedans are Crown Victorias, and he said he spends $21,000 to $23,000 per car.
"We're excited that there's another competitor out there," he said.
"We're hoping the new Dodge will be cheaper." Dodge says it will announce pricing later this year. For the police Charger, Dodge added enhanced brakes and a 340-horse power Hemi engine.
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