Holden Caprice US police deal threatened by Ford’s new Taurus

By Matt Brogan | November 17th, 2009

Holden’s opportunity to export its Caprice model to police in the US is under threat as Ford’s American division plans a replacement for the popular Crown Victoria.

Chevrolet last month unveiled the Caprice PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) and announced that it would aim to sell the long wheel-base Australian as a police-only vehicle from early 2011.

But Ford – who currently builds around 75 per cent of all US police vehicles – is due to showcase its new Police Interceptor in the first quarter of 2010 before its launch at the end of 2011.

Ford’s Crown Victoria successor is widely tipped to be the new Taurus, which is currently the only car it makes with similar dimensions.

Ford claims the Police Interceptor has been under development for 14 months with input from its “police advisory board” and will be built in the US with improvements to fuel efficiency, quality and durability.

The outgoing Crown Victoria is powered by an 186kW/402Nm 4.6-litre V8 and is equipped with fire suppression technology and bullet-proof door panels.

Ford says it sells around 45,000 as police vehicles each year.

The 2010 Taurus SHO with the EcoBoost V6 puts out 272kW and 495Nm and seems the best fit from the current Ford stable.

The Caprice with the 6.0-litre Gen 4 V8 compares relatively closely with 260kW and 517Nm of torque.

With around 70,000 police vehicles sold in the US each year there is still an opportunity for Holden to export close 25,000 Caprices each year.

Both new vehicles will be considered by police departments and emergency services when orders are taken next year.

by Tim Beissmann

Hyena

Interesting, but I dont see a EcoBoost AWD as an ideal Crown Victoria replacement. Durability and reliabilty would be questionable, plus the Tauras SHO with that drivetrain is too expensive, around $US40,000 which was much more than the $US30,000 GM was charging for the Pontiac G8 V8.
Shak

That’ll be good. Both US manufacturers would have a car defending the people of the free world.
Shak

THey will still probably choose the Caprice as its humngous and probably drives better as the Taurus is AWD but costs too much in that guise.

Jeff

They will choose the Taurus as it is jobs for Americans and not Australians. Obama will make sure of that and so he should.

Shak

I dont think that will matter in the decision. Whether the Police buy the Taurus or not is irrelevant as Ford will still have the same people making them ans still be selling them. At the end of the day they will go on what suits them better and what the coppers prefer.
John

The current Crown Vic is made in Canada, so go figure.

XR5

Jeff yes you are correct. and the Taurus would be built better and be more reliable as well.

OzProud

Typical uninformed, knee-jerk opinion XR5 – with absolutely no evidence to back it up – but that’s a typical sign of insecurity.

Tim

Quiet Holden loving bogan. XR5 is correct.

OzProud

No Tim, you’re a sad case when you only have abuse as a comeback – no facts, so your opinion deserves no respect.

Mr Unhappy :(

I think you should take a look in the mirror OzProud. You personally attacked XR5

“Typical uninformed, knee-jerk opinion XR5 – with absolutely no evidence to back it up – but that’s a typical sign of insecurity.”

so I think you deserve no respect as you give others none either. However valid point on needing evidence to support your opinions.

Hyena

I would rate the Holden as a much better built car. The Pontiac G8 was compared favourably with Euros in many US tests in terms of build quality. Alas that doesnt make up for the huge amount of cultural cringe in todays Australia as demonstrated by XR5

Shak

How can you tell if the Taurus will have better quality. For all you know it could be made of ground coffee beans.

Stevie

It COULD be made of ground coffee beans, but on the other hand the scummadore actually IS made of ground coffee beans, a fact that Australians with first hand experience can attest to.
Bent 8 Brigade

Yes, yes, that would explain why people just keep right on buying them.
Good one!
Hendrik

All this talk is making me thirsty..

Coffee anyone?
Stevie

So by your logic people only buy things if they are fantastic products, high in quality and made of only the finest materials available? You realise people buy manure as well (and not just for their gardens), and whats that made of? Ask a Holden owner if you dont know.

Rick

Ha totally laughable! Talk about a bogan uninformed comment – Taurus isn’t even released yet and it’s a better built car hmmmm…. I suppose a XR5 is better than a GTi ? Better built too no doubt

You and Tim are pretty uninformed individuals – but you have the right to make Gooses of yourselves on a forum, does provide entertainment value if nothing else!

schuss

Let’s see, a 3.5L 272kw Ecoboost or a 6L 260kw pushrod V8.
I think fuel consumption is going to be somewhat important to the Police force in the future as well.

I think Holden just lost this deal

lazybones

This is going to be a close one. The Taurus is packing a good argument for the Police. AWD, more power, better Fuel economy. Given the extensive modifications like bullet proof panels etc. I doubt the price is anywhere near the 40K mark for either car. As for fuel consumption, even the US Military are reviewing how to reduce their overall consumption per year.
Hyena

I remember reading a US Road & Track article where the Pontiac G8 had better fuel economy than the Tauras, in fact they found the Pontiac to be a much better car, i think they even said something along the lines of ‘… if both cars were in our driveway we’d take the Pontiac every time..’
DGS

Maybe Holden need to put direct injection into their V8 cars as well as the V6′s (if they have not already done so) That will give a little more power and better economy thus making their bid for this contract a little more competitive.

It would be nice if Holden could get this contract, but there are political hurdles to overcome. For such a contract GM may consider setting a production line in the US to building this comodore variant to please the US government.

Baddass

If it was up to me, i’d take the Taurus: it seems like a better bet.

186kw from a 4.6L V8. Shameful.
Myke

RWD is one of the most important things for a US police car, why do you think they’ve held onto the Crown Vic for so long, when they could have easily replaced it with a Impala or Taurus?
A RWD V8 makes more sense than a F/AWD V6 Turbo.

Alex

Why does a V8 RWD better a Turbo V6 AWD?
They didn’t use the Impala or the Taurus because they’re front wheel drive, but all wheel drive isn’t inferior to rear wheel drive so I don’t see any problems and the engine seems better.
I think the Taurus probably will end up with this deal. As Jeff wrote, if they pick the Taurus it’s jobs for Americans. If they pick the Caprice, it’s jobs for Australians. The Taurus seems generally more modern too.
Tomas79

They have held on to the Crown Victoria so long before of it’s body on frame construction!! Which makes it cheaper to repair panels after minor pranks!!
lazybones

I would have thought that AWD would be a better bet for police than just RWD. Just look at how popular the WRX is with the British police.

The clincher will be the car with the most cup & donut holders.

adam (aka mada)

Myke,

Do you realise the Taurus is available as an AWD also? the caprice is RWD only.
The AWD taurus can run more power to the rear wheels also.
Frenchie

The Caprice has the capability to be built as an AWD.
IMO, I think the US will import 10-20 thousand Caprices first year. When the Ford is built they will take the majority on the orders. Then police departments will play GM and Ford to get better deals and more improvements in their cars.
Goodfa

Those Ecoboost power figures are impressive
Whatever

Sucked in Holden – U deserve to perish. I guess the Americans won’t want rebadged Daewoos – who can blame them

Car fanatic

LOL, sorry I tried not to laugh!

atomic

haha i bet your some ford supporter Whatever! some people just hate that Holden still sell a lot of cars! no matter what, people trust Holden and they always have and will! Go Holden!

Hendrik

You mean people trust rebadged Daewoos.. But you’re right, people always will because people don’t care as long as it has a lion on the front

milkyway

I agree that Holden probably lost the deal. 6,000 c.c.? wow. Certainly not at a time when oil is threatening to hit $100pb plus The US will buy US made products when possible.
Ed

Whoever the dickhead is that wrote that article, neglected to mention that the replacement will be Rear Wheel Drive – so probably be using the Falcon platform but built in America.

Matt

Correct, Ford US said the car will be RWD.
AND Ford US said when launching the Taurus they wouldn’t be doing fleets with it.
AND Ford US said mentioned the cop car will be something unique that doesn’t influence the aftersales of their existing cars.

Damian

“Then police departments will play GM and Ford to get better deals and more improvements in their cars.”

I highly doubt that US police departments have the discretion to decide which cars they want. At the end of the day, Uncle Sam will have the final say, and keeping American jobs is enough reason to pick the Taurus over the Caprice. Parts and maintenance will most probably be cheaper if they pick the Taurus. Ultimtely, it does not matter how good the Caprice really is (and if the examples we have here are anything to go by, they’re not that good) – this decision will not be based on merit; only politics.

Rhubarb

“and if the examples we have here are anything to go by, they’re not that good”

And this statement is based on what exactly (apart from love of all things Ford)?

Splatcat

I reckon they will go with the Ford for two reasons.
1. American made which will help protect jobs when the US is having an unemployment problem.
2. If the Cops tried a PIT maneouvre with the Caprice, the panels and interior plastic trimming would fall off.
Jake

At end of the day this deal won’t be decided on which car is better but where the American taxpayers money will go.
Andrew M

yeah, some people are in la la land not realising what the real factors will be in this decision.

The Taurus will be ahead purely because it American made.
Oh and also couple that with Fords long history with the force and you could be assured Ford will be playing the “teachers pet”. Ford will make sure the variant they offer will be more than suitable. As if they are going to submit something they know will be useless or that wont stand a chance……..

The best chance for the Chev is if they set up a plant in the states.

There was also another contender that seemed to be the most practical by far, forget what it was called, but it looks the goods. I doubt the contract will go to anyone bar a main player in the game though.

Someone mentioned the possibility of a Falcon platformed Taurus…..
Maybe if they get this contract the Ford Aus new platform will come the ice????
not made here of course, but it would be good to see our aussie engineering taken note of

poohbear

I’d wager on a Taurus platformed Falcon

Andrew M

Not if RWD is in demand

Tomas79

I reckon the vast majority will be taurus cruiser, and a few purpose built carbon motor cruisers http://www.carbonmotors.com/

Andrew M

Thats the one I was talking about Tomas, Carbon, thanks for that.

This is one very well thought out rig, but as I said earlier, this wont be the main stream vehicle.
The main fleet wil go to someone like GM or Ford

RWD

have a cry GM..did you think Ford was just hand the police car market to you? They deserve it more than Gm because the car is made in America and have the experience in this area. Even though Ford is not owned by the American Gov like GM is i would thingk that Barrack Obama would try to use a car made in the USA because i think there would be some negative voter backlash if they used an imported car even if it has a majority of American parts in it.
dlunn64

Don’t we have something called a FREE TRADE AGREEMENT with the US which stipulates that there can be no discrimination regarding where a product is made eg US or AUS.
If US based GM is putting up an Aus built car then where it is built should be irrelivent.

Andrew M

yes, but firstly that agreement only works one way, whether or not they want to admit it.

Secondly, if they are like our government, they also have agreements that say they must choose local product if a viable option is available

Shak

They do.

Tom21

Most of the Caradvice commenters cant see basic logic. Here it is.

The Taurus SHO is a slow, ridiculously heavy (they are 2100kg) full sized car running a complex AWD system and a twin turbocharged motor. That is ALOT to go wrong.

The Holden on the other hand is faster, much faster in normal driving (due to significantly less weight and more torque) and uses very simple, very proven technologies. RWD, pushrod v8. Not to mention the Caprice has more room, and that is important.

The Caprice has all the positive characteristics of the old crown victoria. The only thing going against it is that it is built in Australia, but hey, since the American government owns a controlling stake in GM these days…

Hendrik

Valid opinion Tom21,

But you fail to also recognise that the European police have been using and abusing high tech cars for decades and continue to do so.

Just because one car can be considered more complex than the other (2011 Taurus v Caprice) it doesn’t mean that it will break down more or fail to deliver with less ease.

If consumers and governments bought products on the basis of a less complex system we’d still be cooking meat in a rock pit and anarchy would the standard form of government.
Dan

@Tom21,
Well you seem to have missed something along with most other CA readers/commenter’s. Nowhere in the article does it say that it will in fact be the Taurus.
“Ford’s Crown Victoria successor is widely tipped to be the new Taurus, which is currently the only car it makes with similar dimensions.
Ford claims the Police Interceptor has been under development for 14 months with input from its ‘police advisory board’ and will be built in the US with improvements to fuel efficiency, quality and durability ”
So first question is why would it take 14 month’s development to get the Taurus in its current form (which is what this article and most people are implying) ready for police work?

The article should have read “Ford’s Crown Victoria successor is widely tipped to be a new Taurus Based Cruiser” but this leaves questions also;
-Will it be AWD?
-Will it be powered by the ecoboost v6 or the Coyote v8?
-Will it use any of the RWD architecture from Ford Australia?

Once these details do arise then you can start comparing apples with apples.

Dan.

Carl

Australian governments are amongst the few around the world that betray their own peoples jobs……..Obama WILL intervene if the wrong decision is made and correct it!!!! Not because i think he is wonderful or special BUT because Yanks are much more patriotic than we are….Shame on us!!!!

Shak

Theres a limit to patriotism. We are patriotic enough. for them if you dont like what they like and dont beleive in their god your a terrorist.

Andrew M

maybe we are patriotic enough, that just means the other countries are way too patriotic.

What is enough?? its like the old piece of string argument

Falcodore

This has nothing to do with the US federal gov. Its the decision of the individual police dept’s.

Sure, ‘made in America’ might be a factor for some dept’s but ultimately it will come down to what vehicle better suits their needs, whether it be the Ford or Chev product.

Shak

Your absolutley right. And which may i ask do you think meets these needs.

Joofas

..And, ultimately, I think you will find, like our govt departments, it will come down to $$$. Not just in the purchasing sense, but the Whole-Of-Life costs of each vehicle – Servicing intervals, costs, parts, lifespan, running modifications, etc etc.

To think that it will simply be a ford or holden (GM) loving argument is to be ridiculed, equally, to suggest that one is faster, more powerful or technologically advanced…

If taxpayers are paying, then the total cost of buying/leasing will be the largest deciding factor in my opinion, though i stand to be corrected in time, but watch this space…
Falcodore

Well, i think in the colder climates (ie. where it snows) the Ford, if it is going to be AWD as some reports have suggested, will be the car of choice. As for the rest of the country the RWD GM product will suit their needs just fine.

brock-was-a-cheat

FORD POOOOWAAAAAAHH!! will win…it ALWAYS does here…those pathetic crumpledoors are a sad joke and should be banned from leaving the country, they cause us to be a joke on the world motoring stage.

Golfschwein

Oh well… at least they get to the world stage.

http://pagani shane t

All ford driver are very one eyed, I own a Holden SS and drive a Ford XR8 as my company car and have done so for the last 3 models of these cars and i can tell you right now the Holdens have been beter faster and far more reliable!!! and i think Ford owners no this and this is why there comments are so angry because they no this, and for the comments regards the euro cops using complicated turbo AWD vehicles YOU HAVE to be STUPID if you thing a US built AWD Turbo vehicle could be reliable, A high strung 3.5L turbo will just not be as reliable as a big 6L chev and as for fuel my father has a XR6 turbo and it uses way more fuel than my 6L comm, turbos are hungry!! I think it will come down to buy price and the over all running costs, yeah thr ford id built in the US but GM is partly owned by the US Gov so that has to cancel out that agument!!