Ford plans to offer its 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 engine for its Police Interceptor Utility. The engine can deliver 365 hp and produce 350 lb.-ft. of torque, and is same one that Ford uses in its F-150 pickup truck models equipped with a V-6 engine, the automaker stated. Ford also offers this engine in its Police Interceptor Sedan.

With the addition of this engine, Ford will offer a total of three engine choices for the Police Interceptor Utility. They include the currently available 3.5L V-6 with front-wheel drive, a 3.7L V-6 with all-wheel-drive, and the new 365 hp 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 with all-wheel-drive.

Ford’s Police Advisory Board identified this engine as their “No. 1 want,” said Ford’s Gerry Koss, fleet marketing manager for the automaker. He went to say that the Police Interceptor Utility represents half of the company’s police vehicle orders and that the sales results prove that the automaker’s two-vehicle strategy was on target.

The automaker is targeting the fourth quarter of this year for availability, Koss told Government Fleet. He added that the automaker will announce pricing for this engine at that same time.

One of the agencies that plans to put this vehicle into service is the Nevada Highway Patrol, Ford stated.

“This is good news,” said the agency’s Lt. Charlie Powell, commander of fleet operations. “We at Nevada Highway Patrol look forward to putting this platform in the field as soon as practical.”

By Greg Basich