2020 Ford Police Interceptor Utility To Be Offered With Three Engines, Should Be Shared With 2020 Explorer

Ford teased the 2020 Police Interceptor Utility back in June and now an ordering guide has revealed an assortment of new details about the upcoming model.

The ordering guide (PDF), which was posted on Explorerforum.com and picked up by Jalopnik, reveals the Police Interceptor Utility will be offered with three different engines including a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6, a 3.3-liter V6 and a hybridized version of the 3.3-liter V6. The latter is the most interesting of the bunch and the document says the hybrid model will come equipped with a ten-speed automatic transmission, a lithium-ion battery pack and a high-performance regenerative braking system which is specifically calibrated for police duty.

Despite the addition of the lithium-ion battery pack, Ford says the model will still have a spacious cargo compartment as the battery pack “does not intrude into the cargo area.”

The ordering guide doesn’t include performance or fuel economy numbers for any of the engines, but Ford has already confirmed the hybrid engine will be standard and should allow the model to have a combined fuel economy rating of at least 24 mpg (9.8 L/100km / 28.8 mpg UK) . This a nearly a 40 percent improvement over the current Police Interceptor Utility and Ford estimates this will save police departments approximately $3,200 per vehicle in annual fuel costs.

Despite being more eco-friendly, the Police Interceptor Utility hybrid will also be more capable. Ford hasn’t gone into specifics, but has already said the model is expected to be faster and have a higher top speed than the current crossover.

The new police model will also be more high-tech as it will feature several new systems including a Police Perimeter Alert system. It builds on the previous Surveillance Mode by using the vehicle’s Blind Spot Information System to monitor approximately 270° of movement outside the vehicle. The system then analyzes these movements to detect “potentially threatening behavior.” If this occurs, a chime will sound while the system automatically locks the doors and rolls up the windows.

Other new additions include two years of complimentary Ford Telematics service and an optional Rear Camera on Demand system which will show what is happening behind the vehicle. The model can also be equipped with a new SYNC 3 infotainment system as well as a pre-collision assist system with pedestrian detection.

All three engines are expected to be offered on the standard Explorer and they could be joined by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder.

The Police Interceptor Utility will go on sale next summer, while the 2020 Explorer is “coming soon.”