I was sent two videos from an officer on the Auburn Hills Police Department, in Auburn Hills, Michigan; which is the home to the DaimlerChrysler Headquarters. They recieved four new Dodge Magnum Police Package pre-production police cars. I was going to post the videos, but since the videos are so big, I took still pictures of the cars, and will post them. Please DO NOT use these photos w/out my permission, if they are I will delete them from the site.
redriderbob
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Chrysler Group Provides Test Vehicles To Auburn Hills Police Department
The HEMI® Returns To Law Enforcement
Auburn Hills, Mich., Mar 11, 2005 -Watch our bad guys; there is a new law enforcement vehicle in town!
The streets and communities of Auburn Hills, Mich., will now be patrolled by the Auburn Hills Police Department (AHPD) in four new Dodge Magnum police vehicles. The vehicles are being donated by DaimlerChrysler to the AHPD as part of an on-going testing program that provides valuable feedback to the company on how the specially-equipped Dodge Magnum vehicle performs under day-to-day police work conditions. The test also will provide valuable real-world information to the AHPD by demonstrating the best vehicle package that works for a law enforcement vehicle.
DaimlerChrysler is donating four specially-equipped 2006 Dodge Magnums from the engineering test fleet for the purposes of testing by police departments. The vehicles have been thoroughly upgraded with heavy duty suspension and braking systems, upgraded electronics that are specially adjusted to accommodate law enforcement equipment and modified interiors. Exterior features and markings will be added to identify the vehicles as Auburn Hills Police Department vehicles.
“The testing program with the Auburn Hills Police Department is a valuable informational tool for us,” said Michael C. Quinn, Chrysler Group Specialist – Passenger Car Police Programs. “We are provided with real-world, useful feedback on how the vehicle performs in day-to-day police activities.”
The vehicles also include all of the great things that make a Dodge Magnum what it is. Two of the vehicles will have the 3.5-liter SOHC High-Output V-6 Engine which delivers 250 hp, while the remaining two units will have the ultimate performance engine, the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, producing 340 hp (to catch the bad guys) and 390 lb.-ft of torque.
All of the Dodge Magnum police vehicles will be equipped with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) which aids the driver in maintaining vehicle directional stability while minimizing oversteer and understeer to maintain vehicle control and behavior while driving.
The Police Car Testing program began in 1998 when DaimlerChrysler provided Dodge Intrepids from the engineering test fleet to local police departments to elicit feedback on how the vehicles, when equipped as working police vehicles, perform in real-world situations.
“We appreciate the opportunity to perform this type of vehicle testing for DaimlerChrysler,” said Jim Mynsberg, Deputy Chief of the Auburn Hills Police Department. “It gives us a chance to influence how these police vehicles will be set up.”
Police Car Heritage:
The former Chrysler Corporation dominated the police car business throughout the 1960s, ‘70s and early ‘80s, with market U.S. shares ranging from 45-60 percent. Police vehicles manufactured by the former Chrysler Corporation included the Dodge Monaco, Dodge Royal Monaco, Dodge Coronet, Dodge Diplomat, Dodge Dart, Dodge St.Regis, Plymouth Fury, Plymouth Gran Fury, Plymouth Volare, and Chrysler Newport.
In more recent history, Dodge returned to the police car market after a 12-year hiatus with the 2002 Dodge Intrepid, earning a four percent share of the 85,000 unit U.S. market. The front-wheel-drive Dodge Intrepid was phased out of production in 2003.
In the fall of 2004, Dodge previewed the 2005 Dodge Magnum as a police unit offering enhanced rear-wheel-drive performance and handling with a spacious, flexible interior for police special service uses.
Dodge Brand:
With a U.S. market share of approximately seven percent, Dodge is Chrysler Group’s best-selling brand and the fifth-largest nameplate in the U.S. automotive market. In 2004, Dodge sold more than 1.4 million vehicles. Dodge continues to lead the minivan market segment with a 20 percent U.S. market share and maintains an 18 percent share of the highly competitive truck market. In 2006, Dodge will enter key European volume segments.
Fly'n down the highway on I-40 thru Oklahoma in my new Cool Vanilla Magnum I spotted a highway patrol Magnum which was also Cool Vanilla, The large "POLICE" sign on the side gave it away. It was pretty!
Not sure is anyone has seen this, but here's a link to a short video from Discovery Canada's Crimebusters interviewing the Deputy Chief of Auburn Hills' Police Dept... http://www.exn.ca/news/video/exn2005...-policecar.asx
Enjoy
Tom
__________________ '05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Brilliant Black Crystal Full Size
That's all the police force needs.....another gas guzzling BOAT to chase people down in..... now, I'm not knocking the Magnum cuz its an awesome car....least as far as performance.....but quite frankly.....it's time that they start looking for vehicles that offer the performance AND the gas mileage....cuz lets be honest....we the people are footing the bill for all the gas......and i dunno bout you.....but last time i checked the gas prices......i wasnt exactly happy with them...
I do agree that we as Tax Payers are footing the bill for the "Gas Guzzeling Boats", but I think the differences are neglegible between the models typically used for Police/Municipal Use:
Granted all of the statistics are from www.fueleconomy.gov, but they are level, fair and from the same source. I'd want the Police to have a fairly level playing field when it came to HP, general vehicle mass, and capability. Without these I don't think it is fair to Law Enforcement officers to question safety over fuel consumption. I have several good friends that are Police Officers (one in a CV, and the other in an Impala) and wouldn't want to see them in any other vehicle, and I don't think the Stratus is up to the task for equipment and officer space...let alone if defensive measure have to be used.
I'm not bashing smaller cars, but we also have to realize that there are many pieces of equipment - Mobile Data Terminals/Laptops, Radio, Siren Controller, Light Controller, Camera, Radar to name a few -that have to occupy the same space for day to day use.
But that's my $.02
Tom
__________________ '05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Brilliant Black Crystal Full Size
2006 Dodge Magnum Police Package:
LOL!!
