Ford now offers a new non-pursuit-rated special service police sedan model, based on its Taurus sedan, for law enforcement agencies in the U.S. Ford is offering the new model based on feedback from its police agency customers, the automaker stated.

The sedan features Ford’s 2.0L EcoBoost engine, which is capable of producing 240 hp and 270 lb.-ft. of torque, according to the automaker. The 2.0L-equipped special service sedan could achieve 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, 26 mpg combined, according to Ford's estimates, and the automaker expects official EPA fuel-economy ratings in December. The regular 2.0L-powered Taurus sedan can achieve up to 22 mpg city, 32 highway, for 26 mpg combined, for the sake of comparison. 

To improve fuel economy further, the special service police sedan will also feature Active Grille Shutters, shutters behind the grille that open and close based on vehicle speed and engine temperature in order to balance engine cooling needs with vehicle aerodynamics.

Ford noted that if a police vehicle is driven 30,000 miles per year, the special service police sedan’s more fuel-efficient engine could allow agencies to save up to $5,040 over the course of three years (based on $3.65 for the average price of a gallon of gasoline) when compared with the outgoing 4.6L V-8 Crown Victoria.

The new special service police sedan features the same safety and durability standards as Ford’s pursuit-rated Police Interceptor and is also upfit-ready, according to the automaker. Ford also noted that the parts for this sedan are interchangable with that of the automaker's other Taurus-based police vehicles.

Update: Noted interchangability of parts and clarified fuel economy figures. 9/18/2013, 10:39 a.m.