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New Safety Tech Accompanies 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe Pursuit Vehicle

December 6, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

Tahoe police pursuit vehicle gains crash mitigation technologies.

2018 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV
For 2018, this Chevrolet Tahoe PPV offers a driver-assist safety technology package.

Police departments across the nation have their choice of Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford models to choose from. All three manufacturers vie to serve our men and women in blue as well as other emergency service personnel.

Available Enhanced Driver Assist Package

The 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV is one of the largest models of its kind and this year it is claiming something no other model has: the industry’s first-in-class safety technology. The technologies fall under the “Enhanced Driver Assist Package,” designed to “reduce potential crash speeds or help avoid a crash all together.”

The option package includes power-adjustable pedals, a safety alert driver seat, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, forward collision alert, and low-speed automatic braking. The package is optional, but may very well entice departments to consider them.

Indeed, that fact was confirmed by Theodore Quisenberry, a 43-year law enforcement veteran and the retired chief of the Royal Oak (Michigan) Police Department and the Oakland County Homeland Security Division. Said Quisenberry, “When they’re on road patrol, police officers are constantly multitasking. Now when officers are scanning their surroundings, so is their vehicle. That will help them stay safe.”

The Fab Five

The five available safety features are now routinely offered on many Chevrolet vehicles. The power-adjustable pedals may not have an apparent safety component, but when included with the standard 10-way power driver’s seat and tilt wheel, finding the ideal driving position is important for the blue brigade.

The safety alert seat is unique to GM. The way it works is that it provides seat-bottom vibration pulses instead of audible crash avoidance alerts. Lane keep assist with lane departure warning provides gentle nudges when a vehicle veers out of its lane and the turn signal is not activated.

Forward collision alert uses a radar and a forward-looking camera to gauge the closing speed between the PPV and the vehicle immediately in front. If the gap is too narrow, an audible warning is issued. Lastly, the low-speed forward automatic braking system will apply the brakes when the PPV is traveling at low speeds, particularly as the system detects a front-end collision is imminent.

2018 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV Specifications

The 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV costs from $42,830, not including third-party up fits. This body-on-frame vehicle offers 120.7 cubic feet of interior passenger volume and 112.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Buyers have a choice of two- and four-wheel drive configurations.

This model is powered by a 5.3-liter V8 engine, generating 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque and sends power to the wheels by means of a six-speed automatic transmission. The PPV rides on Goodyear P265/60R17 V-rated all-season tires mounted on 8.5″ black steel wheel with bolted on center cap and matching spare wheel. Optionally, departments can order the tires with aluminum wheels. You also get a full size spare tire mounted on a black steel wheel (does not include center cap).

Standard equipment includes aero shutters, a front underbody shield, transmission oil cooler, engine oil cooler, routing grommet, electric power steering, stability control, proximity sensors, OnStar, and rear park assist with a rearview camera. Optional features include ground studs, a trailer hitch insert, recovery hooks, splash guards, rear door locks, windows and handles — inoperative, an exterior lamps emergency flashing system, wiring provisions for equipment, and spotlights.

Of course, there are a number of convenience features sure to please, including air conditioning, cloth seats, cruise control, an 8-inch color display, four USB ports and one auxiliary input jack. Also, Bluetooth connectivity, an overhead console, and an available navigation package round out the key features.

Chevrolet Police Pursuit Vehicle Fleet

For 2018, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV is discontinued. The model was imported from Australia, but the manufacturing plant building the PPV and other Holden models is being shuttered. For now, the other choices include the Silverado SSV pickup truck, the Express Van, and an Impala Municipal model.


See Also — Blue Light Special: Ford F-150 Police Responder

Filed Under: New Models Tagged With: 2018 SUVs, Chevrolet, Chevrolet Tahoe PPV, four-wheel drive, GM, police interceptor, rear-wheel drive, safety technologies, SUV, V8 engine

Pony Wars: Dodge Challenger Upends Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro

July 12, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

Dodge’s entry pulls a fast one.

Plum Crazy Dodge Challenger
Dodge Challenge sales are plum crazy!

The Dodge Challenger is No. 1. Or at least it was in June 2017. In the annual battle for pony car supremacy, the Ford Mustang continues to lead the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in US auto sales, but last month the Challenger overtook the two to finish first.

And that’s no small feat for Dodge’s sport coupe. Long a distant third-place finisher, the Challenger is living up to its name and is within striking distance of overtaking the second-place Camaro.

Pony Car Sales Through June 2017

What’s especially significant here is this Challenger is the same generation model released in 2008. Moreover, both of its American competitors are newer, with the most recent Mustang released in 2015 and an all-new Camaro in 2016.

The Dodge Challenger is the lone car bright spot among the major brands in the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles portfolio. Specifically, sales are up 4 percent through the first six months of 2017, while sales of the similar Dodge Charger sedan are down 11 percent.

Mustang sales are plunging, dropping 29.2 percent through June. Comparatively, Camaro sales are nearly flat, slipping just 0.7 percent during that time. There’s an opportunity here for both Mustang foes to pick up sales this year, but we’ll see how Ford chooses to respond before making predictions.

Pony Car Sales Breakdown

June 2017 Pony Car Sales

New and Specialty Models

So, how is Dodge managing to wring out sales from the Challenger, now in its 10th year of production? By releasing a slew of new and speciality models.

In 2008 — its first model year since the 1970-1974 pony car run (let’s never mention the heretical Mitsubishi model of the late 1970s and early 1980s) — Dodge limited production to 6,400 units and nearly all sold in advance of production.

Throughout the intervening years, Dodge expanded the Challenger product line as new engines joined the portfolio. Special package options, including Drag Race, Rallye, and Rallye Redline joined in, giving shoppers even more reason to consider this model.

And Along Comes the SRT Demon

Even as its competitors prepared and released new models, Dodge kept the pedal to the metal with the Challenger. Notably, in 2015 Challenger sales reached a record 66,365 units as a special edition Hellcat variant making 707 horsepower rolled out. The novelty of this before-unheard-of model sparked sales. Also, Dodge’s decision not to limit production fueled interest.

Earlier this year, Dodge threw new attention on the Challenger as it announced an SRT Demon wide-body variant. The specialty model comes packed with a 6.2-liter V8 engine outfitted with a 2.7-liter supercharger with an output of 808 horsepower. Fill this machine with 100 octane racing fuel and 840 horsepower is at the ready.

The interesting thing here is that the first Demons have yet to arrive at Dodge dealers. That’ll happen in the fall and the allotment of 3,000 2018 models should add further impetus to Challenger sales.

Meanwhile, Dodge continues to enjoy outstanding buzz based on its latest super model, no doubt a contributing factor in its sales increase so far this year. Another factor is the Challenger GT, the model’s first-ever all-wheel drive variant.

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
2018 Challenger SRT Demon sales begin this fall.

Ford, Chevrolet Respond

Neither Ford nor Chevrolet is likely to allow Dodge to steal their thunder without putting up a fight.

For one thing, the 2018 Mustang gains a Pony Package, offering 19-inch polished wheels, side stripes, and other embellishments. Other yet-to-be-determined changes will have to await the release of the 2018 Mustang product sheet in the coming weeks.

As for the Camaro, a high-performance ZL1 1LE Extreme Track package debuts, outfitted with a racing-based suspension and aero technologies, while delivering a blistering 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. Importantly, Chevrolet matches this engine with a six-speed manual gearbox only.

It may be a few more years before we see an all-new Challenger, bringing the current-generation model run to at least 12 years. That’s long for any car, but still a few years short of the 15-year model run (1979-1993) of the third-generation Fox-body Ford Mustang.


See Also — 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon by the Numbers

Sales statistics verified with each manufacturer.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: Chevrolet, CHEVROLET CAMARO, DODGE, DODGE CHALLENGER, Dodge Challenger GT, Ford, FORD MUSTANG, pony cars, SRT Demon, SRT HELLCAT, US AUTO SALES

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