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Police Cruiser Designed By Cops

6 comments

Coming soon to your mean streets is a pre-production version of a sedan that was specifically designed to be a police cruiser.

In an October 01 article from Automotive News, Carbon Motors announced plans to directly sell it’s E7 vehicle to law enforcement agencies, describing the business model as akin to how fire apparatus is sold. (Carbon website HERE with pictures and videos)
Carbon01_profile_web

From Rick Kranz’s article:

Law enforcement agencies “asked that we take these vehicles back at the end of their life and decommission them, recycle them,” said William Santana Li, CEO of Carbon Motors Corp. “Today the criminal element is buying these cars because they still look like police cars” after they are taken out of service.

On Oct. 14, the Atlanta company will begin a nationwide tour in Chicago, showing the diesel powered rear-wheel drive sedan to law enforcement agencies. Sales are expected to begin in 2012.

One of Carbon’s goals was to free up interior space. Many police cars have a laptop on the front passenger seat. In Carbon’s car, the computer’s keyboard and display are incorporated in the center stack of the instrument panel. Additionally, the computer system is designed for police officers with a range of computer skills, and incorporates backup controls.

Carbon02_interior_web
About 75,000 sedans a year are sold as police cruisers, with the 29 year old “Panther” platform Ford Crown Victoria as the dominant brand.  Dodge Chargers and Chevrolet Impalas also are offered with police-package specifications.

Price is not mentioned, but Li points out that the Carbon E7 Cruiser will be delivered completely equipped. He points out that municipalities will pay $24,000 to $26,000 for the vehicle, but then spend up to an additional $55,000 in emergency equipment, including mobile data computers and communication equipment before a cruiser hits the street. This may indicate the price point for a turnkey Carbon E7 Cruiser is below that number.

Mike “FossilMedic” Ward

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Posted by on October 5, 2008 • Filed under: cars, Law & Justice, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged:
  • MATT

    That look like something that every dept will use

  • MATT

    That look like something that every dept will use

  • deputywes

    looks cool, but….
    the rear opening doors would work and the everthing place inside the center stack is nice.

    but diesel for a patrol car, i don’t think will work for everyone. small town areas will have to find a station to fill up and not all stations offer it. the smell during long period of setting, i think is nasty.
    also were are these going to be serviced at, alot of local dealers won’t want to touch them and smaller repair shops that small town police departments use will not be able to.
    55,000 in total from buying the car to putting in the stuff on other cars is maybe big big city style. but most departments reuse radios sirens and strobe systems and lightbars.
    i all so know of several departments buying the cars(ford and dodge)fully decked out lights,siren and color with stripes with the only thing left is the department putting radios in for around 30,000 and being able to swap out to a new one on a lease in 4 years if the don’t want to buy.
    they should donate them to departments big, small, city, county to see if they will hold up and be usable in all types of work areas. like my county country roads

  • deputywes

    looks cool, but….
    the rear opening doors would work and the everthing place inside the center stack is nice.

    but diesel for a patrol car, i don’t think will work for everyone. small town areas will have to find a station to fill up and not all stations offer it. the smell during long period of setting, i think is nasty.
    also were are these going to be serviced at, alot of local dealers won’t want to touch them and smaller repair shops that small town police departments use will not be able to.
    55,000 in total from buying the car to putting in the stuff on other cars is maybe big big city style. but most departments reuse radios sirens and strobe systems and lightbars.
    i all so know of several departments buying the cars(ford and dodge)fully decked out lights,siren and color with stripes with the only thing left is the department putting radios in for around 30,000 and being able to swap out to a new one on a lease in 4 years if the don’t want to buy.
    they should donate them to departments big, small, city, county to see if they will hold up and be usable in all types of work areas. like my county country roads

  • http://firegeezer.com/ FossilMedic

    Updated, videos from tour:

    http://www.firegeezer.com/2008/12/26/random-fossilmedic-follow-ups/

    depwes, many large systems run vehicles for 60,000 to 66,000 miles and then trade in or swap out.

  • http://firegeezer.com FossilMedic

    Updated, videos from tour:

    http://www.firegeezer.com/2008/12/26/random-fossilmedic-follow-ups/

    depwes, many large systems run vehicles for 60,000 to 66,000 miles and then trade in or swap out.