Chrysler Leveraging Ram to Cop More Law-Enforcement Business

Add another nameplate to the growing list of light trucks aimed at law-enforcement fleets.

The Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Special Service vehicle goes on sale this month, following last year’s rollout of the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor – the second pursuit-rated light truck on the U.S. law-enforcement market after a special-edition Chevrolet Tahoe.

Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Special Service vehicle goes on sale this month.

But one expert is evasive when asked if he would engage in a high-speed perp chase with the new Ram. “I’d hesitate a little,” jokes Rich Roberts, spokesman for the International Union of Police Associations.

Expect the truck, which is not pursuit-rated, to be used as a support vehicle. “Its off-road capability would be of value especially in border-patrol areas, and for search and rescue,” Roberts tells WardsAuto, adding one police department in southwest Florida operates a fleet of pickups.

“The Ram 1500 Special Service Truck has been engineered to handle the severe demands of law enforcement,” Peter Grady, Chrysler vice president-network development and fleet, says today in a statement. “The same characteristics also make it anexcellent choice for the public works, maintenance, engineering, and fire departments.”

Among the Ram’s features Chrysler is marketing to law enforcement:

Chrysler is particularly proud of the PDC, which is supplied from the battery with two separate 100-amp fuses for camera, computer, modem and printer operation.

A “unique” wire harness provides the required power, grounding and fuse-protection for emergency lights and sirens.

“This package expands our portfolio of hardworking vehicles available to state and local governments,” Grady says.

Chrysler is trying to build on five consecutive years of share gain in a police market turned upside-down by this year’s production phase-out of the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. The Dodge Charger Pursuit captured 20% of the market in 2010, almost triple the car’s 7% share in 2006, according to Chrysler.

The ’12 Charger also established a new performance record. In benchmark testing by Michigan State Police, the car turned in a fastest-ever lap of 1:33.70 at Grattan Raceway in Belding, MI.

Chrysler also claims best-in-class acceleration with a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 5.83 seconds.

Ford replaced its Crown Victoria model with an all-wheel-drive, Taurus-based pursuit vehicle, which shares a platform with the Explorer Police Interceptor. General Motors offers three pursuit-rated vehicles: a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, the front-wheel-drive Chevy Impala and rear-wheel-drive Chevy Caprice.

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