Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor

Police car variant of the Ford Crown Victoria

The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (colloquially referred to as the CVPI, P71, or P7B) is a four door, body on frame sedan that was manufactured by Ford from 1992 to 2011. It is the police car version of the Ford Crown Victoria and was the first vehicle to use the Ford Police Interceptor name. From 1997 to 2013, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was the most widely used automobile in law enforcement fleets in North America, namely the United States, Canada and Mexico. It was also used for this purpose on a more limited scale in other regions, such as Europe and the Middle East.

After the discontinuation of the Chevrolet Caprice, the Ford Motor Company held a near monopoly on the market for police vehicles in the United States and Canada for over a decade. The conventional rear wheel drive, V8 power, and body on frame construction were considered advantageous for police use. The body on frame construction allowed inexpensive repairs after collisions without the need to straighten the chassis. Rear wheel drive was deemed better for hard maneuvers and more robust than the front wheel drive competition for rough driving over curbs and other obstacles in the urban environment. Although CVPIs were not sold directly to the general public by the manufacturer, they were widely available in North America as used vehicles after being decommissioned. The cars were in demand by taxi companies and others who wanted a safe, durable, and/or inexpensive car, and those who needed a car with a large back seat. The CVPI came equipped with many heavy duty parts, such as a revised transmission, and a engine. Used versions are normally stripped of any police decals, equipment, police radios, and emergency lights before being sold or auctioned to the public. It made 235 hp @4,750 RPM and 276 lb ft of torque at 4,000 RPM. In a corresponding move, the ECM was once again re calibrated and the P71 sported a more powerful 135/82 amp alternator. The 3.55:1 rear differential was also deleted in favor of a 3.27:1 unit. All plastic bumper trim was deleted and a new honeycomb style grille was made standard, replacing the slat style grille. Street Appearance Package versions still maintained their chrome bumper trim and chrome slat style grille. Power adjustable pedals also became an option for 2001, as height diversity among officers joining police departments increased. Ford relocated the rear window defrost switch from the left side of the dash to the direct left of the HVAC controls. The Ford logo on the steering wheel was now blue instead of being color coded to the interior.

There were no changes made to the 2002 CVPI aside from the addition of power mirrors as standard equipment.

At the 2002 New York International Auto Show, a 2003 Ford Police Interceptor concept car was previewed featuring an all new exterior, mirror mounted spotlights, a 300 hp V8 engine, reinforced front and rear bumpers made out of a mixture of stainless steel, polymer, and aluminum, as well as 18 inch alloy wheels. While the exterior design of the 2003 concept vehicle was scrapped, the 2003 model year brought the most extensive changes to the Panther platform since its 1979 introduction. The 2003 model year introduced all new underpinnings with a re designed and fully boxed hydro formed steel frame, as well as an aluminum #2 cross member. According to Ford, the new frame was 20% more resistant to vertical bending and allowed the vehicle to perform better in crashes. For more precise handling, the suspension was significantly revamped, with the addition of coil over front shocks, revised steering knuckles, revised upper and lower control arms, and mono tube rear shocks; the new rear shocks were now inverted and mounted to the outside of the frame rails. For more precise steering, the recirculating ball power steering system was replaced with an all new rack and pinion unit that was 22.5 pounds lighter than the outgoing setup. The brakes were also redesigned, with the addition of a quiet EBD brake booster that optimized front rear brake bias; it also featured a mechanical panic assist. These changes contributed to 2003 and newer CVPIs having significantly better handling characteristics in comparison to their 2002 and older counterparts. Several changes were also made under the hood. An engine knock sensor and revised engine tuning increased horsepower and torque ratings for the 2003 CVPI to 239 hp and 287 lb ft of torque. Additionally, the entire exhaust system was re designed, with exhaust hangers now mounted to the frame rails; this allowed for a reduction in interior noise. For improved carbon emissions, the EGR system was revamped, and the fuel system was now return less. A larger 6 quart oil pan was also made standard, and the oil fill cap was moved to the passenger side valve cover. The intake manifold was revised and now included an aluminum coolant crossover and deeper intake runners. For better cooling, a new, variable speed electric cooling fan replaced the two speed unit, and the power steering fluid reservoir was now mounted to the fan shroud. In a minor change, an accessory belt shield was fitted to the front of the engine, and a new engine cover that featured a silver "V8" emblem was introduced. Lastly, a larger 78 amp hour battery was now standard on the CVPI. The interior was also slightly revised for 2003, with new front seating surfaces that featured improved cloth upholstery and larger headrests; seat mounted side airbags also became an option. The standard vinyl rear bench and optional cloth rear bench also received new upholstery. Additionally, interior door panels and switch gear were also updated for better ergonomics. Another notable change for 2003 was the addition of 7 hole 16x8 inch steel wheels, replacing the old concave 20 hole steel wheels. A 2003 model can be told apart from its 1998 2002 counterpart models by simply examining the wheels. Due to the new underpinnings, the wheels for the new cars had a much higher offset and look almost flat. Along with a new wheel design, new hubcaps were introduced. These new 7 hole steel wheels were eventually the subject of a recall.

Midway through the 2003 model year, Ford de contented the CVPI along with the rest of the Panther platform line. The CVPI saw the removal of the remote locking fuel door, auto parking brake pedal release, foam insulators inside the headliner, silver "V8" emblem on the engine cover, and an engine compartment lamp. Ford estimated that de contenting the Panther platform lineup would save US$4,000,000 in production costs per year. These changes took effect in December 2002, and vehicles produced after this date are often referred to as "2003.5" and "2003 Job #2" models.

For 2004, the CVPI received its final horsepower upgrade, using a new air intake borrowed from the Mercury Marauder. The 2004–2011 CVPI is rated for 186.5 kW (254 PS; 250 hp) @4,900 RPM. This better flowing air intake system also has an integrated 80 mm (3.1 in) mass airflow (MAF) sensor that is part of the airbox lid (but can be serviced individually). This allows for much more precise flow calibration and reduces the chances of air leakage. The P71 zip tube (the flexible rubber hose between the throttle body and MAF outlet) is also used to reduce NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) as well as transfer air from the airbox to the throttle body with minimal flow resistance. The 2004 CVPI also included a 200 amp heavy duty alternator manufactured by Mitsubishi. The new alternator was computer controlled and featured a one way decoupling pulley in order to remedy belt slippage on wide open throttle up shifts. The alternator has a characteristic whine under hard acceleration that can be mistaken for a mechanical issue. The 3.55:1 rear axle returned as an option for 2004, and in a cost cutting move, the standard heated mirrors were made optional, and the silver bumper trim found on Street Appearance Package models was removed.

2005 introduced an optional fire suppression system, an industry first. It was touted to decrease the chances of a fire from starting in rear impact collisions. Vehicles equipped with a fire suppression system can be easily identified by a large encased button mounted on the headliner forward of the map lights. A new steering wheel was introduced for 2005, and the AM/FM radio antenna was removed from the rear window and moved to the rear quarter panel (only for the 2005 MY). The throttle body is no longer manually operated by a cable, but by an electronic drive by wire set up. This move also corresponded with the addition of a slightly updated, electronically controlled 4R70E transmission, which was only used for the 2005 model year. A heated PCV valve was made standard, as were front crash severity sensors with a weight sensing passenger airbag function. Midway through the model year, a 31 spline rear axle was introduced as standard equipment. A trunk circulation fan was offered as a factory option.

2006 introduced a redesigned instrument cluster with an analog speedometer, tachometer, digital odometer with hour meter and trip meter features, and cross compatibility with the civilian version's various features (these are normally locked out, but can be accessed through wiring modification). Kevlar lined front doors were made optional on the CVPIs for the 2006 model year. Introduced in 2006 for P70/P72 Commercial Heavy Duty models and P71 Police Interceptor models was a standard 17 in steel wheel, replacing the previous 16 in wheels, plus new flat gray wheel covers rather than chromed wheel covers as in previous years. Flex Fuel was made available as an option. Mechanically, an updated and electronically controlled 4R75E transmission was introduced with better off the line performance than previous versions.

No changes were introduced for the 2007 model year, aside from the rear shocks having returned to a right side up design.

For 2008, the Crown Victoria was restricted to fleet only sales, and all Panther platform vehicles became Flex Fuel cars, making them compatible with E85 fuel. The CVPI also received keyless entry abilities.

For the 2009 model year, the CVPI now had power pedals, side airbags, and federally mandated recessed window switches as standard equipment. The CVPI also received upgraded brakes for 2009, although specifics about them are not available. The confirmation flash that occurs when the doors are locked is now automatically disabled when the Courtesy Lamp Disable option is ordered. The confirmation flash was considered to be a safety issue because the lights would flash when officers exited the vehicle and locked the doors, potentially giving their presence away at night. The car received new styled door moldings, and Ford placed a "Flex Fuel" badge in the lower right corner of the rear fascia. The Street Appearance Package also received the same new door moldings as found on the civilian fleet only Crown Victoria LX. The 2009 CVPI now mandated the use of Mercon LV fluid in the 4R75E transmission.

In 2010, the VIN code "P71" was replaced with "P7B". No other changes were made.

2011 models received updated and larger front headrests along with the rest of the Crown Victoria line in order to comply with new front crash rating standards. This was the last model year for the CVPI and no other changes were made from 2010. The final CVPI was purchased by the Kansas Highway Patrol in 2011. As of 2023, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has more than 400 CVPIs in service.

Both cars use the same 4.6 L 2V SOHC V8 (both Flex Fuel starting in 2008), Ford modular engine, and Ford four speed automatic transmission. However, a few notable differences exist between the CVPI and a standard Crown Victoria or Grand Marquis.

All CVPIs are equipped with a larger capacity radiator along with external power steering, transmission, and engine oil cooler to reduce engine oil temperatures. This allows the vehicles to operate at high rpm/high loads for an extended period of time without the risk of engine oil overheating and subsequent engine damage. This engine oil cooler can be prone to seeping oil from the O ring seals after the high mileage operation encountered by CVPIs, particularly where damaged by road salt. The Police Interceptor engine calibration includes a slightly higher idle speed (by around 40 rpm) and minor changes in the emissions settings. The computer is tuned for more aggressive transmission shift points, and the transmission itself uses a smaller heavy duty 11.25" (1999 2011) torque converter compared to the 12" torque converter on a standard Crown Victoria. The EGR system is controlled differently on '03 and older vehicles than on non police vehicles. The 2004–2011 Police Interceptors are equipped standard with an open 3.27:1 rear axle (axle code Z5), with a traction lock (Trac Lok) 3.27:1 rear axle (axle code X5) optional, and are electronically limited to due to critical drive line speed limitations. An optional 3.55:1 traction lock rear axle ratio with 119 mph speed limiter was also available from 2004 to 2011 (axle code C6). The 1999 mid 2001 CVPIs were equipped with a standard 3.55:1 rear axle ratio and were limited to about This compares to the standard non P71 2.73 rear axle ratio with a speed limitation of for all "civilian" Crown Victorias. Ford used an aluminum matrix composite driveshaft for the 1999–2001 CVPIs as a measure to allow safe operation at high speeds with the 3.55:1 gear ratio, but it was more expensive than the regular aluminum driveshafts and was eliminated with the 3.55:1 rear axle midway through the 2001 model year.

YearsPowerTorqueNotes1998 2000 Non performance improved (NPI).2001 2002 "Performance Improved" 4.6L 2V V8.2003 Addition of a knock sensor allowed the ECM to be re calibrated for more power.2004 2011 Mercury Marauder style air intake, 80mm mass airflow sensor. Ford CVPI 1/4 mile times (as tested by Michigan State Police). Model 1/4 mile 1992 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 17.48 1993 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 17.29 1994 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 17.25 1995 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 17.32 1996 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 16.89 1997 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 17.63 2003 Ford Police Interceptor 16.99 2004 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.34 2004 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.44 2005 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.44 2006 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.57 2006 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.73 2007 Ford Police Interceptor "3:34" 16.70 2008 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.29 2008 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.35 2009 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.71 2009 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.69 2010 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.42 2010 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.74 2011 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.75 2011 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.82

Another difference is Ford's "severe duty" shock absorbers that offer a stiffer ride than the standard Crown Victoria. They also have black steel wheels with stainless steel or chromed plastic hubcaps. All CVPIs also come with T 409 stainless steel, dual exhaust systems without resonators. Standard Crown Victorias come with a stainless steel single exhaust system, while the Handling and Performance Package and LX Sport equipped Crown Victorias have the same exhaust system as the CVPI, with the resonators. The resonators further reduce noise, vibration, and harshness without adding any restriction to the exhaust system. CVPIs have higher rate coil springs, around of additional ground clearance, and thinner rear anti roll bars (shared with the LX Sport) than the Handling and Performance Package Crown Victorias; the base Crown Victoria, beginning in 2003.5, does not have a rear anti roll bar. The bulk of police car modifications, such as installation of emergency lights, sirens, passenger seat dividers, and plastic rear bench seats, are offered as aftermarket modifications by third parties.

CVPIs came standard with manual cloth bucket seats, despite having the shifter on the steering column. This gap between seats is generally filled by a console holding radios, controls for emergency equipment, large firearms, and often a laptop computer or mobile data terminal. A velour split bench seat was optional, with a power adjustable driver's seat being optional on both the split bench and standard bucket seats. All front seat choices came with stab proof seat backs. The rear seats were offered as a standard vinyl bench, however, both cloth and velour rear seats were optional. CVPIs came standard with heavy duty flooring, but this could be removed in favor of carpeting. All CVPIs had a non leather wrapped steering wheel, with cruise control being an available option throughout the model run. All CVPIs came standard with a basic four preset AM/FM radio, however, there was the option to add either a cassette deck or CD player. The CVPI also had a calibrated speedometer. The trunk release button was located in the center of the dashboard as opposed to being on the driver door panel (some units were fitted with both of these). The CVPI was available with "dark mode", which disabled overhead interior lighting upon opening a door.

One way to distinguish most P71s is the small "Police Interceptor" badge that replaces the standard "Crown Victoria" markings on the trunk lid, although the Street Appearance Package (SAP) versions forego this badge, using the standard Crown Victoria marking. Police Interceptor badges are now available for purchase online, so this identifying technique is not as reliable as it once was. SAP cars also use chrome trim rather than the black trim of normal CVPIs. P71s can also be identified by the dual exhaust and an analog 140 mph speedometer. The CVPI has an additional interior trunk release in the center of the dashboard with a prominent warning decal right below it, while the civilian version has it only on the driver's door. All second generation Crown Victorias made for civilian use have a five digit horizontal keypad (known as SecuriCode) above the driver side door handle, which can be used to lock/unlock the car and open its trunk. All P70, 71, and 72 Crown Victorias are assembled without this keyless entry system, so unless the driver door was damaged and had an improper replacement door installed, any Crown Victoria with a keypad is a civilian one, while any one without a keypad is a P70, 71, or 72 fleet Crown Victoria. The only completely infallible way to identify a CVPI is to look for the code "P71" in the VIN, or "P7B", as it was renamed in 2010. Police Interceptors have the characters "P71" as the model code in the VIN, or "P7B" for 2010+ models, instead of P70 (stretched wheelbase), P72 (commercial heavy duty/taxi and fleet vehicles), P73 (base), P74 (LX), or P75 (1992 touring sedan).

Following the criticism of fires following highway speed rear end collisions, 2005 and later model CVPIs had an optional automatic fire suppression system and special "trunk packs" designed to prevent cargo from penetrating the fuel tank in a collision. Customers had to pay an additional $150 (150.0 in 2005 is equivalent to about <calculated amount> in recent years) per car for the trunk packs.

Some problems arose with early 2003 CVPIs; the newly designed steel wheels rusted prematurely, and the rack and pinion steering units failed as early as 10,000 miles. This was not limited to the CVPI; some 2004 Mercury Marauders were also affected. A recall, initiated on March 1, 2007 (07S48), affected the steel wheels used on 2003–2005 CVPIs. Another issue with the wheels have been weld points that come loose, causing rapid air loss in tires and the potential for loss of control. A recall was issued after an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, the company has created anger among civilian owners of 2003+ Police Interceptors by refusing to honor the recall unless the vehicle is still being used in fleet service. The only way this problem could be addressed was if a civilian customer complained to a dealership about air leakage problems, an inability to balance the wheels properly, or a "nibble" or excessive vibration in the steering at speed. The issue was then addressed through the "Customer Satisfaction Program" that Ford initiated for the wheels. Ford ultimately resolved this issue on production cars in 2006 by introducing new 17 in steel wheels for their heavy duty models.

A common failure point on the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was the intake manifold. Beginning in 1996, Ford used a plastic intake manifold manufactured by DuPont, which also had an integral plastic thermostat housing and anti freeze crossover. As these vehicles were commonly used for emergency style driving and often endured long idling times, these intake manifolds quickly proved to be problematic. Cracks would develop along the thermostat housing area, causing anti freeze leaks and overheating issues. Misfires have also been reported, as leaking anti freeze may seep down into the spark plug wells. This resulted in a class action lawsuit against Ford. Beginning in 2003, a revised intake manifold with a bolt on aluminum thermostat housing and anti freeze crossover was produced and fitted to all new vehicles in an attempt to remedy the issue. While they were less failure prone, these intake manifolds proved to be problematic as well. Another common failure point on these intake manifolds was the rear heater hose fitting, located on the rear right side of the engine. It used a plastic nipple to connect the heater hose to the heater core. The plastic nipple would often split off from the intake manifold, causing rapid anti freeze loss and overheating.

In 2013, Ford Motor Company recalled 370,000 2005–2011 model year Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car vehicles due to the possibility of steering loss. The recall only applied to vehicles sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. 15,000 of the affected vehicles were sold in Canada.

In April 2011, Ford stopped accepting orders for the CVPI. Following the 2011 model year, due to its lack of electronic stability control, the Crown Victoria was no longer legal for sale in the United States and Canada; a short 2012 model year was produced solely for GCC/Middle East export. The last Crown Victoria Police Interceptor rolled off the assembly line in August 2011, and was sold to the Kansas Highway Patrol. The vehicle now resides in the agency's academy as a museum piece. This was followed by the final Crown Victoria to ever be produced on September 15, 2011, which was exported to Saudi Arabia. It was the very last vehicle to be produced at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant. As CVPIs continue to be decommissioned across the United States, a significant number have gone on to be purchased by civilian owners. Some have also been preserved in museums in the United States and overseas.

On March 12, 2010, Ford Motor Company unveiled the Ford Police Interceptor Sedan. While sharing a nameplate with the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, the Police Interceptor Sedan was a variant of the sixth generation Ford Taurus, shifting from the long running Panther chassis to an all wheel drive version of the D3 architecture. In a design decision, the Police Interceptor Sedan did not adopt the Taurus nameplate, as it was sold alongside the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, derived from the Ford Explorer. Along with heavier duty components and a redesigned interior, the Police Interceptor Sedan adopted higher performance steering and suspension tuning. The standard engine was a 3.5 L V6, but a 3.7 L V6 (shared with the Mustang) later became the standard power plant. A twin turbocharged EcoBoost V6 (shared with the Taurus SHO) was also available as an option. The Ford Police Interceptor Sedan was discontinued alongside the North American Ford Taurus model on March 1, 2019. The Ford Police Interceptor Utility remains in production as of 2022 as Ford's main police vehicle, sharing its design with the civilian market Ford Explorer.

In Russia, the Main Directorate for Road Traffic Safety, popularly known under its historical abbreviation GAI (ГАИ), purchased 140 Crown Victoria P71s from 1994 to 1995. Part of the militsiya (now politisya), the vehicles were operated by the Road Patrol Service (DPS) as highway patrol units around the greater Moscow area. The most powerful vehicles purchased by the DPS at the time (replacing Chaika engined GAZ 24 10 Volgas), the Crown Victorias were used by the agency through the early 2010s. Its reliabity and comfortable seats were well liked. Their use took place when Yury Luzhkov purchased the vehicles for the GAI. Second generation CVPIs were reported to be used in other regional police forces such as in Sochi. In 1999, the Ukrainian Militsiya in Chernihiv were provided first generation Crown Victoria as humanitarian aid from Washington, D. C. According to official documents provided by the Militsiya, the vehicles were not widely used since June 2011. There was documentation submitted in 2014 regarding the potential write off for the first gen CVs in Cherihiv. In 2003, three CVPIs were bought by the French city of Montpellier. Purchased as part of an upgrade of the local Police Municipale, the Crown Victorias were selected for their durability, security, and safety. In 2008, they were put up for sale, as the American designed police cars were found to be too wide for the city streets and too long for PM garages. They were formerly used by the Brest Regional Executive Committee.

CVPIs were used by Middle Eastern law enforcement agencies, including those from the United Arab Emirates (via Dubai), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan.

As the Crown Victoria became increasingly ubiquitous within North America as a police vehicle, media from the 1990s through the 2010s followed suit and as a result the Crown Victoria and fictional vehicles resembling it became a common set piece in television, cinema, and video games set in North America. In Russia, the mid 1990s Crown Victoria became a symbol of Moscow's road militsiya for over a decade; the P71 is pictured on a DPS badge awarded for 15 years of service. It is a full length film documenting the Crown Victoria and its sister cars. It follows the legacy of the vehicle through its inception to its current cult like following, focusing on the individuals who still drive the car today.