Official: Ford 2012 Police Interceptor based on Taurus

[Fenixgoon]

Yep, Ford is bragging about how much they beat on the Ecoboost motor:

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=29657

I would be concerned about the tranny and AWD though - those are indeed unproven.

that is one hell of an engine test

 

[Demo24]

Feature you missed: 40mph curb impact rated steel wheels

 

[c3p0]

that is one hell of an engine test

I have personally watched this type of testing ran over and over with almost zero failures. I can't speak for the rest of the drive train, but the engine is proving to be extremely reliable. Time will tell, but early testing is very encouraging.

Edited for Mr. tap!!!
c3p0

 

[wiretap]

I don't think I'd use the term 'bullet proof'. That's usually an aftermarket tuning term. I'd like to see some 600+hp daily drivers on the stock block before we throw around that term.

 

[c3p0]

OK...use what ever word you choose that indicates reliability. Extremely reliable works for me.

c3p0

 

[wiretap]

lulz ok

I guess I stick around car forums too much. Just for future reference, that term isn't used for a stock vehicle just because it can withstand a basic stress test. Bullet proof is used to describe something highly modded and pushes the limit, in which other cars would normally blow up and/or break. Normally it's a long proven setup over many years/generations of the vehicle, and has a history in the modding community.

 

[Throckmorton]

Feature you missed: 40mph curb impact rated steel wheels

Well that's well and good but what about the suspension and unibody?

 

[Throckmorton]

lulz ok

I guess I stick around car forums too much. Just for future reference, that term isn't used for a stock vehicle just because it can withstand a basic stress test. Bullet proof is used to describe something highly modded and pushes the limit, in which other cars would normally blow up and/or break. Normally it's a long proven setup over many years/generations of the vehicle, and has a history in the modding community.

I've never heard of "bulletproof" having to do with modifications. But I don't read ricer forums. I read some Jeep and offroad forums, plus Miata.net.

A Jeep 4.0L straight 6 is considered a bulletproof engine, because it lasts forever.

 

[wiretap]

Modifications don't have anything to do with "ricers" in my context. Ricers stick things on their cars for gaudy looks. I was speaking strictly in a performance sense of the word.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I have to agree - "bullet proof" refers to a highly reliable setup, whether it be stock or modded.

 

[Meghan54]

I have to agree - "bullet proof" refers to a highly reliable setup, whether it be stock or modded.

Exactly. Bulletproof=ultimate reliability, end of story. Mopar 225 Slant six engine....bulletproof from the factory. Sad it's long gone.

 

[wiretap]

Growing up in the motor city on Woodward.. I'd disagree about that being a 'factory' term.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Clearly you disagree. Vernacular disagrees with you. Let's move on.

 

[wiretap]

At factory specs, it does what it's designed to do and it isn't supposed to fail. Bullet proof goes beyond that, describing something that can be pushed beyond what it's supposed to do and still hold up to the extremes. Unless this is just a Detroit local thing, I've never heard anyone describe a factory vehicle as bullet proof. Just about any car can last you a decade or longer unmodified, whether it be a Kia or a Ford F-350.. that's not the same as 'bullet proof'.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Bullet proof goes beyond that, describing something that can be pushed beyond what it's supposed to do and still hold up to the extremes.

I guess the key term here is "beyond what it's supposed to do." Would you agree that the testing Ford has put into Ecoboost V6 motor is "beyond" what people are supposed to use it for on the street? Indeed, policy duty is "beyond what it's supposed to do" and that testing would show that the engine is capable of "beyond what it's supposed to do."

It's "supposed to" get people from A to B with the ability to accelerate quickly and do so reliably over a long period of time (I don't know what auto mfr's target for the life of a vehicle), and in this case produce better fuel economy than a comparable V8 powered vehicle.

The testing shows that the engine will do that and much more, including having the absolute snot beat out of it with constant accelerations, decelerations, cold starts, hot starts and more.

By your own definition, that sounds "bullet proof" to me.

I understand where you're coming from, comparing it to modified vehicles, but most people use bulletproof to refer to a product (factory or not) that is highly reliable under most if not all circumstances, requiring not much more than regular maintenance.
**********************

So, I wonder if Taurus owners will be able to order the police parts for their SHO? If I had one, I'd definitely want the better brakes...

 

[wiretap]

I'd consider Ford's testing pretty standard. They just put emphasis on their testing to show they can make a turbocharged passenger car too, just like foreign automakers. That's one of the marketing strategies that Elena Ford talked about when she came into one of my engineering classes last semester. To call something bullet proof before it even has a history, let alone an aftermarket modding history is just laughable.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I was just using your definition pal.

I'd say based on the information, reliability concerns with the Ecoboost are only marginally more than motors like the 5.7L Hemi or GM's 6.0L in the Caprice. I'd pick the LS-motor 7 days a week and twice on Sunday, but that's me.

 

[wiretap]

Sure thing slick.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I'd consider Ford's testing pretty standard. They just put emphasis on their testing to show they can make a turbocharged passenger car too, just like foreign automakers. That's one of the marketing strategies that Elena Ford talked about when she came into one of my engineering classes last semester. To call something bullet proof before it even has a history, let alone an aftermarket modding history is just laughable.

Ford have been making turbocharged cars for years. What's your beef?

 

[wiretap]

I'm just going off of her words. In north america, the people aren't used to having domestic auto makers have turbocharged passenger cars. Yes, diesel pickup trucks have been around for a long time, but we haven't had many turbocharged passenger cars. I'm actually quite glad they're starting to make some.

 

[Pliablemoose]

LOL, Ive always wanted a passenger car with a push bar on the front...

 

[Iron Woode]

I'm just going off of her words. In north america, the people aren't used to having domestic auto makers have turbocharged passenger cars. Yes, diesel pickup trucks have been around for a long time, but we haven't had many turbocharged passenger cars. I'm actually quite glad they're starting to make some.

LOL

Turbocharged passenger cars have been made in NA since the late 70's. Chrysler made a whole slew of them using the K-car chassis. GM made several turbocharged cars: LeSaber, Century, Regal, SkyHawk, Sunbird, Monte Carlo, Trans Am (twice - 1st was horrible, 2nd was awesome), Sprint and Riviera. Ford offered a Mustang SVO (turbo 4), Merkur X4RTI and Turbo Thunderbird.

 

[wiretap]

Yes.. that's great, we can literally count on one hand how many a single auto maker made.. and for the same short lines.. the majority being failures. They certainly weren't a flagship product that carried them far.. actually causing them to lose money, hence why they moved away from it. My family and practically every neighbor around me grew up working in the big three auto companies.. I'm pretty well versed in what went on throughout their history. I'm living in the aftermath of it right now.. driving a foreign turbo/awd car.

 

[c3p0]

Yes.. that's great, we can literally count on one hand how many a single auto maker made.. and for the same short lines.. the majority being failures. They certainly weren't a flagship product that carried them far.. actually causing them to lose money, hence why they moved away from it. My family and practically every neighbor around me grew up working in the big three auto companies.. I'm pretty well versed in what went on throughout their history. I'm living in the aftermath of it right now.. driving a foreign turbo/awd car.

I've been working at the Ford Dynamometer Laboratory for almost 20 years now. I have been involved in much of the engine research an development during that time. I used the term bullet proof simply to indicate that this engine has done particularly well during all phases of development and durability testing. If that term bothers you, then I am sorry. Lets get past that.

As for the history part. Ford's engine program is so much better today than it was 20 years or even 5 years ago. But I'm sure you know much more than I do about that too.

c3p0

 

[fbrdphreak]

I've been working at the Ford Dynamometer Laboratory for almost 20 years now. I have been involved in much of the engine research an development during that time. I used the term bullet proof simply to indicate the this engine has done particularly well during all phases of development and durability testing. If that term bothers you, then I am sorry. Lets get past that.

As for the history part. Ford's engine program is so much better today than it was 20 years or even 5 years ago. But I'm sure you know much more than I do about that too.

c3p0

[/discussion] :thumbsup::whiste:

So, no one has heard anything about the Caprice PPV? Curious how it's being received by departments, if it is at all!