LAPD Cop Car of the Future

LAPD’s Cop Car of the Future

Think you can outrun this baby?

Fast, furious crime-fighter
Los Angeles Police dreamed of cruising the City of Angels in Pontiac’s G8 GT, built in Australia by GM subsidiary Holden and first released in 2008 in the United States — until GM dropped its Pontiac line. Back to the drawing board.

Still, the G8 would have been a sizzling-hot patrol vehicle sporting an impressive 361 hp 6.0 liter (364 cubic inch) Generation IV V8 engine with a 6-speed, 6L80 automatic transmission.

Together, they’re capable of hitting 60 mph in just over 5 seconds with quarter-miles as low as 13.5 seconds. The speedometer tops at 180 mph but despite the best intentions of on-board Active Fuel Management, the G8 GT averages only 15 mpg city, 24 mpg highway.

The contender: Chevy Caprice
Now, LAPD is transplanting its extensive R&D into a 6.0 liter Chevrolet Caprice PPV also made by Holden which is aggressively pursuing the law enforcement market now that Ford is winding down production of its 224 hp Crown Victoria, the all-time classic American cop car.

High-tech accessories
Advanced gizmos embedded in the G8 have upped the odds of catching crooks. Thanks to FLIR (forward-looking infrared) officers can identify and track heat signatures oozing from suspects — even with headlights off. Yes, the car can see in the dark.

The low-profile lightbar houses PlateScan cameras able to read up to 8,000 license plates per shift, comparing them to stolen vehicle or Amber Alert databases stored on an in-trunk computer, able to notify officers with a voice and on-screen alert within a second of a positive ID hit.

Here’s an audio report I filed when PlateScan first surfaced. Since, dozens of LAPD units have been equipped with the technology.

Playback: PlateScan
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Built for uncluttered comfort

Cop-customized
Officers have asked forever for the interior enhancements implemented in the Pontiac G8 prototype. The laptop computer that once rode between officers now resides in the trunk, reducing the possibility of injury in a crash. A built-in dashboard touchscreen is one interface, though officers can also plug in a standard keyboard.

Gun-toting is far more comfortable thanks to cutouts in the seats to accommodate side arms. Reinforced lower back panels should help reduce stress. Under-seat fans circulate cool air through the seats in SoCal summers helping reduce heat damage to Kevlar vests.

Skinned for savings
As for the white on this black-and-white — it’s no longer paint. Vinyl skin now saves a custom paintjob and eliminates the pesky chore of making sure folks who buy a used cop car paint those trademark white doors. The peel-off skin means higher resale value the department is hoping to maximize. “Our black-and-white fleet is worth $50 million dollars,” says newly-named LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, “and currently we sell it for $2 million when its service it through.”

The only problem (besides Pontiac’s demise)? Los Angeles’ huge fiscal deficit means these super-squaddies will have to wait at least until 2011. The pressure’s on to keep the department’s fleet running as-is for another year without adding any new vehicles.

Still, like any car-crazy aficionado, a cop can dream of a rad ride.

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