EmergencyTech.org

The NYPD is finially starting to realize that those wimpy front wheel drive Impala and Malibu RMPs (radio mobile patrols) just don’t cut the mustard when it comes to rolling up at a no-holds-barred old school style po-lice testosterone party. According to AMNY:

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced Monday the department would be testing 15 flashy new 2006 Dodge Chargers on regular patrols, giving the NYPD a new top speed of 150 mph. The cars go from 0 to 60 in 6.5 seconds and stop much faster than NYPD’s current fleet of Chevrolet Impalas and Ford Crown Victorias, which max out at 110 mph.

They also get better gas mileage than the Crown Vic.

“We’re looking to diversify,” said Kelly, who suggested the new cars would be ordered by the hundreds to supplement the 3,000 cars and vans that bear the NYPD insignia. The Impalas and Crown Vics will remain in service throughout the city.

The 340 horsepower monsters will pack Hemi V-8s, stability control systems (which can be disabled on the fly for some real tire-smokin’ pedestrian-jeopardizin’ fun!), and something (a dimmer switch?) that disables the interior lights. Starting price: $29,000 bare. Look for some fancy strobe packages to make these really slick. If dressed up right these would make great highway interceptors but the last thing the NYPD needs on surface streets is to go faster.

Via Jalopnik

No Comments »

I’ve been a big proponent of doing what they did in the UK a long time ago - getting away from the top-heavy, maintenance intensive 4 wheel drive gasoline flycar and moving to more durable diesel sedans that get excellent fuel mileage and are (and here’s the part that gets me heat every time) safer and just as useful.

I think the difficulty in convincing people that this is the right way to go is in overcoming the testosterone-factor that comes with the big 4WD sport utility vehicles that are commonly used for flycars in the states. There, I’ve said it and I mean it. Sure, the SUV has its place in climates where 4 wheel drive is useful (although my AWD sedan does just fine, as would an AWD vehicle - more on this weak justification after the jump) like in the montains and the snow-belt. Moving to something like this little diesel number from Volkswagen called the Polo has numerous advantages:

• Fuel efficiency - let me see you squeeze 72 mpg out of a Chevy Tahoe or Suburban. Not only reducing cost, the increased mpg means fewer out of service trips to the pump and a higher unit hour utilization.
• Maintainance - it’s a diesel, need I say more?
• Size - if well layed out this vehicle can carry just as much useful gear as is needed in your average advanced life support flycar or supervisor vehicle. Also, its smaller size makes it able to fit in congested urban areas and busy-hospital parking spots that a Hemi-Durango couldn’t dream of.
• Safety - its diminutive size may curb the agressive driving that causes quite a few accidents. Operators may be more conscious of their driving if they’re not in some lumbering beast.
• Cost - The VW Polo retails for $19,990. Even using the State Bid process that beats the pants off of most SUV’s.

Sure, the Polo’s not the fastest thing on the road topping out at a blistering 62 mph; however, before I hear it — everyone go get their agency’s driving policy and show me that it’s okay to go faster than 62 in an urban setting where most posted speed limits are in the 25-35 mph range. Everyone got it? Okay.

More after the jump. Continue Reading »

No Comments »