The Dodge Charger hit the market a few years back and was an instant hit with the public. The roomy sedan was not what every Dodge lover was hoping for, but along with a popular performance sedan, the Charger also proved to be a great replacement for the Intrepid in Dodge's police car program. The Ford Crown Victoria had long been the norm for police departments around the US, as their V8 was far more powerful than the 3.5L V6 found in the Intrepid, but when the Charger police models became available, the 5.7L Hemi made the new Charger a popular choice over the Crown Vic.
The 2009 Dodge Charger, like other Hemi-powered models will receive a boost in power, now offering 368 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque, making the Charger an even better choice for high speed pursuit. But rising gas prices and growing concerns about fuel economy have caused many to question the police using V8 vehicles, but Dodge has addressed that as well, with their Multiple Displacement System (MDS). Previously unavailable on the police models, the MDS offers around 20 percent better fuel economy over a non-MDS model, so along with a bump in power, the Charger is also friendlier on the tax payers when at the pumps. So, not only is the Charger one of the more efficient V8 powered cars in its class, but the police variant surpasses all of its competitors in power, acceleration, and top speed.
Along with being the most powerful of the options available to police departments, the Charger also packs a handful of high tech goodies that assist in the vehicles handing during high speed pursuits or just day to day operations in poor weather conditions. The Charger's Electronic Stability Program uses anti-lock brakes, all-speed traction control, Yaw Sensor, and a Steering Angle Sensor to make the Charger handle well regardless of the weather; and four-wheel independent suspension and police performance-tuned steering allow the Charger police models to take even the toughest corners at pursuit speeds.
The Charger police models have a wide variety of features that are also standard on the citizen issued models, but the interior of the police models has been modified to make them more comfortable and more functional for the officer. The shifter, which is mounted on the console for regular models, has been moved to the steering column to make more room in the front passenger area and the front seats are wider and better padded to give officers in full uniform a more comfortable ride.
While running from the police is always a bad idea, Dodge has taken steps to ensure that those who do make the foolish decision will be far less likely to get away, and at the same time they've made the awesome Charger police model friendlier to the environment.