Ford has long had a stranglehold on the police vehicle market, successfully transitioning away from the Crown Victoria to the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor, Ford Expedition SSV, and Ford F-150 Police Responder in recent years, with a number of departments also showing interest in the Ford Mustang Mach-E as a future patrol vehicle. However, Ford Authority spies recently spotted a few Ford Explorer Police Interceptor vehicles testing with one unusual feature.
Both of these Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles are hybrid models, and were accompanied by an F-150 and another Explorer as part of a group. The crossovers are sporting EPA exhaust tips, which is the most interesting aspect of what we’re looking at here. It’s possible that the Police Interceptor Utility vehicles are either participating in some high-altitude testing, or perhaps testing ahead of a forthcoming refresh for this particular model.
Aside from gaining a few innovative features including a heated sanitation solution last fall, the Police Interceptor Utility hasn’t received any sort of major refresh in some time now. It’s currently unclear when the Explorer on which it’s based will be refreshed, though both the Explorer and and Lincoln Aviator EV variants were previously confirmed to arrive in 2023, as Ford Authority reported back in September, and both were recently delayed to late 2024. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Ford Authority spies spotted an Aviator wearing autonomous vehicle hardware just yesterday.
Ford has remained atop the police vehicle market since at least 2014, controlling around two-thirds of the market. The automaker has been producing dedicated police vehicles since 1950, but today, the Police Interceptor Utility accounts for 50 percent of all new U.S. police vehicle sales.
We’ll have more on the Police Interceptor Utility soon, so be sure to subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Police Interceptor Utility news and around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
Comments
I work at Cleveland Engine. Hearing 3.5L RFF Ecoboost V6 going to be offered in Explorer in either MY’23 or MY’24.
Okay, I give up, what are EPA exhaust tips?
EPA tips are modified exhausts with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) testing equipment. This is how they rate them for fuel economy, pollution numbers, and making sure that they are following laws for Min/Max pollution for the category.
same question – thanks in advance
what state is that? definitely not Michigan
Colorado 🙂
There is something attached to the underside behind the front wheels.