The Michigan State Police have just announced some results from their vehicle testing procedures for the 2014 model year and the new Dodge Charger Pursuit AWD has set the record as the fastest all wheel drive police cruiser to lap the Grattan Raceway road course where the tests are conducted. With a lap time of 1:33.86, the 2014 Charger Pursuit AWD is the fastest all wheel drive car to lap the track with only the rear wheel drive Charger Pursuit’s time of 1:33.70 beating the all wheel drive model’s record time.
The reason that it is significant for the 2014 Dodge Charger Pursuit AWD to set the record time for all wheel drive cars at the Michigan State Police vehicle tests is because the uber popular Ford Taurus-based police interceptor in its most powerful form is only available with all wheel drive. There is no rear wheel drive Ford PI sedan right now and while there is a front wheel drive option, it doesn’t offer the performance of the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 so if police forces want the fastest possible car and they pick Ford – they have to pick all wheel drive. The Dodge Charger Pursuit RWD models already proved itself as the quicker option compared to the Chevrolet Caprice police car and now Dodge also boasts of having the highest performance AWD police car as well.
“With the record-holding rear-wheel drive Dodge Charger Pursuit and now the fastest-ever recorded all-wheel drive model, Chrysler Group offers those who protect and serve us with the best pursuit-rated sedans in the business,” said Peter Grady, Vice President of Network Development and Fleet, Chrysler Group LLC. “And with the only test cars achieving lap times less than 1:34, Dodge Charger Pursuit highlights the segment’s best combination of world-class technology, acceleration, braking, handling and dynamics.”
The 2014 Dodge Charger Pursuit AWD is powered by the same 5.7L Hemi V8 as the rear drive models with 370 horsepower and 390lb-ft of torque but unique to the AWD models is an advanced transfer case with front axle disconnect that allows the all wheel drive Charger Pursuit to also be very efficient as it only sends power to all four wheels when the extra traction is needed. Finally, heavy duty brakes, a performance tuned heavy duty suspension, increased cooling components and performance all season tires wrapped around 18 inch heavy duty steel wheels makes the Charger Pursuit a beast that can run down some of the quickest cars on the road today.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
