Fastest ever police pick-up revealed

Crooks beware: Ford has revealed its first “pursuit-rated” pick-up and it could be just the thing for patrolling US president Donald Trump’s new Mexican border wall.

Meet the 2018 Ford F-150 Police Responder, which is capable of speeds up to 100mph (160km/h), fitted with four-wheel drive and all-terrain tyres, and delivers more torque than any other police pursuit vehicle.

Engineered for high-performance capability and durability in both on-road and off-road situations, Ford says it’s “ideal for rural environments patrolled by sheriff’s departments, border patrol operations and fish and game authorities”.

The all-new F-150 Police Responder is based on Ford’s heavy-duty F-150 FX4 pick-up and now available to US law enforcement agencies in the market for a more versatile and capable patrol vehicle.

However, there are a number of key additions over the FX4’s standard equipment, which includes a 280kW/635Nm 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 turbo engine matched to a 10-speed Ford SelectShift automatic transmission, plus off-road suspension and underbody skid plates.

These include upgraded brake calipers and pads, a beefier front stabiliser bar, police-calibrated speedo, 240-amp alternator, engine hour meter and engine idle-hour meter, heavy-duty cloth front seats with slim bolsters and anti-stab plates, heavy-duty vinyl flooring and rear seat trim, column shifter with deleted centre seat, 18-inch alloy wheels and a high-strength military-grade aluminum-alloy SuperCrew body.

Ford says that gives the formidable F-150 the largest passenger volume, payload and towing capacity (3175kg) of any pursuit-rated police vehicle, as well as best-in-class front/rear shoulder and hip room, and rear legroom.

“Ford’s 2018 F-150 Police Responder is the perfect all-terrain law enforcement vehicle,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford’s police brand marketing manager.

“Aside from its industry-first on-road pursuit capability, this purpose-built pickup can comfortably seat five, while providing capability in off-road patrol situations for officers in rural environments patrolled by sheriff’s departments, border patrol operations and the Department of Natural Resources.”

Although you won’t see it any time soon in Australia, where the latest F-150 is available from a handful right-hand drive converters, the F-150 Police Responder joins the Blue Oval’s growing law enforcement vehicle range in North America, which Ford claims is the biggest in the US industry.

Other US Ford law enforcement vehicles include the Special Service F-150 and Expedition, the market-leading Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility, Special Service Police Sedan and Transit Prisoner Transport Vehicle and the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan – America’s first pursuit-rated hybrid police car.