Ford F-150 Becomes the First Pursuit-Rated Pickup Truck for Police
The Ford F-150 Police Responder is the industry’s first pursuit-rated pickup truck.
Powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine with 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, the F-150 is capable of speeds up to 100 mph, while also having four-wheel drive for all-terrain police performance. Those specs also mean the F-150 Police Responder has more horsepower and torque than any other pursuit-rated police vehicle.
The truck is based on the F-150 FX4 off-road model, with a 145-inch wheelbase sitting on a high-strength steel frame. It offers the largest passenger volume, payload, and towing capacity of any pursuit-rated police vehicle. It also features best-in-class front and rear shoulder and hip room, as well as rear legroom.
SEE ALSO: Ford Debuts the World’s First Pursuit Rated Hybrid Police Car
Additional upgrades to the Police Responder include a police-calibrated brake system with upgraded calipers and pad friction material, upgraded front stabilizer bar for improved braking and handling, as well as 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. To support onboard electrical devices, there’s a high-output 240-amp alternator, along with a police-calibrated speedometer, and engine hour and engine idle hour meters. Protecting the truck’s underbody are skid plates, while the standard class IV hitch gives the truck best-in-class towing capacity of 7,000 pounds.
The interior has also been overhauled with a column shifter with center-seat delete, heavy-duty cloth front seats with slim bolsters and anti-stab plates, vinyl rear seating, and heavy-duty vinyl flooring for easy cleanup.
“Ford’s 2018 F-150 Police Responder is the perfect all-terrain law enforcement vehicle,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford’s police brand marketing manager. “Aside from its industry-first on-road pursuit capability, this purpose-built pickup can comfortably seat five, while providing capability in off-road patrol situations for officers in rural environments patrolled by sheriff’s departments, border patrol operations and the Department of Natural Resources.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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The demise of traditional body-on-frame sedans might be leading police departments to consider heavier trucks and SUVs to perform the same duties instead of keeping them only for special purposes. Despite all the handling disadvantages inherent to the higher center of gravity in a truck or traditional SUV, the repair cost after a crash (which might be not so uncommon on police duty, especially on pursuits) is considerably lower than for an unibody.