Carbon Motor's new E7 police car

[zombi]

designed to give crown vics a run as police car of choice

>>>>>>>>>
1. Doors
The E7's wide-opening suicide doors (i.e., with rear-mounted hinges) in back make stowing less-than-docile perps quicker and safer.

2. Lights
In place of the Interceptor's old-timey roof-mounted light bar, Carbon Motors has built a UFO's worth of strobes, flashers, and spotlights right into the E7's roof and bumpers. So much for spotting cop cars in the dark by their outline, Mr. Leadfoot.

3. Body
Carbon's cruiser is 12 inches shorter and 6.5 inches narrower than the Interceptor, making it more maneuverable. It's also 5.9 inches taller — better for cramming bad guys into the back without banging their heads. Bonus: You can keep your hat on, officer.

4. Protection
The E7 comes standard with ballistic panels in the firewall and front doors that can stop a .44-caliber round. Ford offers front-door armoring as an option.

5. Monitor
Reed and Malloy had to twist their necks to check on suspects in the back. The E7's cockpit features an A/V feed from the rear compartment.

6. Engine
The upstart's six-cylinder turbodiesel uses 40 percent less fuel than the Ford's gasoline-fed V-8. Yet this 300-hp green machine hits 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (vs. the Interceptor's 8.4 secs) and can pursue suspects at 155 mph. The Ford tops out at a pokey 129.

http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/16-03/pl_motor

[antarius]

More like the Dodge Charger as the Crown Victorias are being phased out anyway.

I read something on that E7 though, definitely looks like a cool ideal but I don't know that it will actually be able to meet the demand. Not to mention the fact that it looks "aggressive" and might offend some of the more politically-correct agencies.

The other thing is GM is rolling out their Zeta platform, which is a RWD platform for most of their sedans (inclduing the new Camaro and Impala). I'd be willing to bet that a city would rather deal with a company like GM (or Chevy) with a product that existed before, and worked well, than try a whole new concept like the E7.

Myself personally, I'd like to see MORE choices for departments. It'll be nice to be able to choose from a full sized RWD Impala, a Crown Vic (for a short period of time), a Dodge Charger or the E7. Departments will, in theory, be able to pick a vehicle that suits their needs without having to sacrifice something because its' the only car available.

[RolnCode3]

If Carbon could work on a 4WD/2WD SUV as an alternative, I'd be interested to see what their collaboration could come up with.

Also, unless all of these armoring and AV choices are non-optional, and the car is still comparatively priced, then some departments will take a stripped down and cheaper version, or avoid it all together in the name of cost-saving. With Vallejo taking a pay cut, and other cities getting pressure to do the same thing, don't expect them to shell out big bucks for patrol vehicles.

[bb sue]

RC3 hit the nail on the head - we're in the process of trying to upgrade our fleet (the last major re-spec was done in the 70's - seriously) stuffed onto whatever current chassis the manufacturer makes. It's so bad that the bodies for our units are made one-off as no one else anywhere runs this antiquated stuff... so even IF they don't issue them cheaper or stripped, some municipalities will spec things without.

But the number crunchers at Div of Equp't say noooo... thou shalt NOT have thy modern recovery vehicle, but thou shalt have antiquated technology because they that sayeth thou may spend money are indeed spreading falsehoods unto the multitudes...

It's not just PD's that get their aspirations stripped to the bone. But if it's any consolation, remember - the space shuttle was built as a low-bid government spec'd unit.

And... um... it was only recently that they *didn't* remove AM radios from our work trucks because the spec said no radios... And within the past few years they added ))gasp(( FM, because AM-Only units (and a no-radio option) cost too much. Oh... we *did* get a concession... our new trucks (after 2009) will have Air Conditioner Units. Maybe. :wow

Have a happy day...
bb sue

[masameet]

The Carbon E7 police cruiser demo will be at the Auto Show this week in SF.

Any of you planning to check it out?

Lots of YouTube videos on it.

[antarius]

My department is currently looking at them as a replacement for the Crown Victorias come budget year 2010 or 2011.

Right now it's the Dodge and the E7 that are to "be looked at."

[NorCalBusa]

They aren't building them yet and don't have a date or the funding to do so. I think they are dog & ponying the thing to generate investors right now- they're at the tipping point it seems.

One of the cost problems is every agency thinks it needs something no one else does- this lightbar or that, this cage or that, radars, MDT, video, the list goes on. Fire departments are even worse- every fire engine is custom made- when three chassis and three engine/tranny choices would serve 95% of the need. After all- it needs only to carry the medics and squirt water...due respect to the fire fighters on BARF.

[Blind_Io]

Photos for anyone who is interested:

http://pic.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/11/24/carbon-motors-e7.jpg (http://img.phyrefile.com/anonymous/2008/11/24/carbon-motors-e7.jpg)

http://images.dieselpowermag.com/news/0810dp_06_z+carbon_motors_e7_police_car+turbo_dies el_engine.jpg

http://images.dieselpowermag.com/news/0810dp_05_z+carbon_motors_e7_police_car+integrated _emergency_lights.jpg

http://images.dieselpowermag.com/news/0810dp_04_z+carbon_motors_e7_police_car+aluminum_s pace_frame_body.jpg

http://images.dieselpowermag.com/news/0810dp_07_z+carbon_motors_e7_police_car+integrated _push_bumper.jpg

http://images.dieselpowermag.com/news/0810dp_08_z+carbon_motors_e7_police_car+tail_light s.jpg

http://img.worldcarfans.com/2008/11/large/carbon-e7-police-car_7.jpg

http://img.worldcarfans.com/2008/11/large/carbon-e7-police-car_3.jpg

http://img.worldcarfans.com/2008/11/large/carbon-e7-police-car_8.jpg

[Blind_Io]

http://img.worldcarfans.com/2008/11/large/carbon-e7-police-car_9.jpg

http://img.worldcarfans.com/2008/11/large/carbon-e7-police-car_10.jpg
http://img.worldcarfans.com/2008/11/large/carbon-e7-police-car_13.jpg

Also, if anyone is interested, here is a PDF of a spec-comparison between the Carbon and other police vehicles (http://www.carbonmotors.com/pdf/comparison.pdf).

[Ozymandias]

wow! sweet! could even run on biodiesel. But at the same time, Carbon has to work fast. Seeing a lot of Chargers hitting the streets. They'll miss their window if all the agencies start adopting chargers. I wouldn't think they'd want to mix and match too much.

[RolnCode3]

I've heard a Toughbook mounted in a Charger means the passenger has to be tiny. Like the smallest female officer you can find tiny. Nobody else fits. (J_B: It was some people in your division I talked to while on a call. 15S and others)...any thoughts?

Just what I heard.

Based solely on the layout and intent, I would drive this E7 in a heartbeat. I think it's awesome someone is finally so focused on this. The integration is pretty cool, but might force agencies to change other hardware, or forgo this if it's not compatible with their current infrastructure (radios and MDCs specifically). Interesting to see how this fleshes out over the next few years.

[windex]

I know we will never get them.

1. Our PIT bars wouldn't work. (even though we can't use them)

2. It's not out dated enough for us to by them yet.:rofl

[silversvs]

Saw it in person at the IACP show in San Diego a few weeks ago.

Very nice car, well thought out, and very beautiful. Clearly designed as a police vehicle with officer safety, comfort, and convenience as the driving force of their layout.

I spoke to their reps and they project a 2012 delivery date.

Price point is high, but they are also selling reliability and longevity.

Based on sitting in the thing (snuck under the ropes after the show closed) I would love to have one as a patrol vehicle after they pry my motor out from under me.

[ckim34]

Love the "Gotcha" front plate:laughing

I heard you can "pre order" one now and when the final price comes out and if it is too high you dont have to buy it.

My department plans on buying ONE at this point if its around 50k. LOL

[firstgen82]

forget the biodiesel...will this car run on doughnut grease?

[NorCalBusa]

forget the biodiesel...will this car run on doughnut grease?

I can barely type from the tears of laughing, Jay Lenno better watch out!

[Kornholio]

Although I work in the diesel industry and love to sing it's praises, I don't think it's going to be a feasible format for police cruisers simply because there's not enough places that sell diesel fuel in the U.S. Regardless of what the mileage would be, there's still the potential for officers to neglect checking their fuel gauge for whatever reason and then they'll find themselves stranded a considerable distance from a refueling station.

[ckim34]

A joke about doughnuts and cops. How original.

[ucb]

About as original as a gay joke about SF

[Kornholio]

About as original as a gay joke about SF

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ch47dmechanic/facepalm.gif

[dwarf]

When is the car show?

[NorCalBusa]

Dude, if the city has a police dept, they also have a Fire dept- and they use the shit out of diesel, having their own tanks at the city yard (oh yeah- all those city trucks are diesel too) and every fire station.

Although I work in the diesel industry and love to sing it's praises, I don't think it's going to be a feasible format for police cruisers simply because there's not enough places that sell diesel fuel in the U.S. Regardless of what the mileage would be, there's still the potential for officers to neglect checking their fuel gauge for whatever reason and then they'll find themselves stranded a considerable distance from a refueling station.

[masameet]

I think the show started today. Was going to drop in but my short stay at Werkstatt this morning left me angry enough to just say Fuggitaboutit!

[SurfAwave69]

Looks like the cop cars in Alameda....

[Kornholio]

Dude, if the city has a police dept, they also have a Fire dept- and they use the shit out of diesel, having their own tanks at the city yard (oh yeah- all those city trucks are diesel too) and every fire station.

Fire trucks don't run out of gas like police cruisers do. They're not driven nearly as much. So you'd have to build larger fueling facilities for city use. Also, just because you have a police department, doesn't mean you have a fire department. And furthermore, there are plenty of cities in the Bay Area that have relatively few if any diesel operated city vehicles outside of emergency services. Also, what about the sheriff departments that patrol long distances into rural areas like San Bernardino and Riverside counties. All you'll see out in the rural areas are mom n' pop gas stations that you'd be lucky to find something higher than regular at let alone diesel.

[NorCalBusa]

Meh. I ain't buying it. I run a diesel, to the order of 20k miles a year. Never, ever run out of juice or had a problem finding it when I needed it. To be confined to a county or city- makes it even easier. :thumbup

Fire trucks don't run out of gas like police cruisers do. They're not driven nearly as much. So you'd have to build larger fueling facilities for city use. Also, just because you have a police department, doesn't mean you have a fire department. And furthermore, there are plenty of cities in the Bay Area that have relatively few if any diesel operated city vehicles outside of emergency services. Also, what about the sheriff departments that patrol long distances into rural areas like San Bernardino and Riverside counties. All you'll see out in the rural areas are mom n' pop gas stations that you'd be lucky to find something higher than regular at let alone diesel.

[Kornholio]

Meh. I ain't buying it. I run a diesel, to the order of 20k miles a year. Never, ever run out of juice or had a problem finding it when I needed it. To be confined to a county or city- makes it even easier. :thumbup

And maybe that would be better. I drive a diesel for work and find it consistently difficult in some areas to find fuel.

[antarius]

My city -- and most cities -- have their own pumps at their Corporation Yard. We have three pumps. Regular gasoline, Premium Gasoline and Diesel.

It would be no issue to get Diesel instead of regular.

[masameet]

Just remember to grab the green pump and not the red one!

[Kornholio]

My city -- and most cities -- have their own pumps at their Corporation Yard. We have three pumps. Regular gasoline, Premium Gasoline and Diesel.

It would be no issue to get Diesel instead of regular.

And what vehicle in your city requires high-octane gasoline? :wtf

[antarius]

And what vehicle in your city requires high-octane gasoline? :wtf

All of our patrol vehicles run premium. The city is actually going to switch those back to regular though. The motors all run premium, though.

[Kornholio]

What type of cruisers and motors are you guys using?

[antarius]

We run Ford products for patrol vehicles and Harley Davidsons and BMW's for motors.

[Kornholio]

I've never heard of or seen a P71 that's required high octane gas. Both the civilian version and the P71 use the same 4.6L two valve V8. The only difference is the air box on the P71. There's no reason why you should have to run high-octane fuel with a P71. The compression is only at 9.38:1.

Same with Harley-Davidson. The FLH model is only at 9.6:1. My Ninja runs 11.3:1 and only requires regular gas. And let's not kid ourselves, FLH's aren't built for high performance. :wtf

[NorCalBusa]

Pretty sure Antarious isn't in charge of the entire city's fuel program, but I could be wrong.

[antarius]

The Harley says, "premium fuel only." The BMW calls for 91 minimum octane.

Whether or not they really need it, who friggin knows.... it's what we run though.

[}Dragon{]

. Also, what about the sheriff departments that patrol long distances into rural areas like San Bernardino and Riverside counties. All you'll see out in the rural areas are mom n' pop gas stations that you'd be lucky to find something higher than regular at let alone diesel.

They have diesel in the boonies.:thumbup (If There are a ton of dirt farmers w/ F350s- you'll find diesel.:thumbup)

[Kornholio]

The Harley says, "premium fuel only." The BMW calls for 91 minimum octane.

Whether or not they really need it, who friggin knows.... it's what we run though.

Harley also thinks that pushrods are still cutting edge. :wtf

Budget wise, throwing premium in your fleet when they don't need it is just throwing money away. I'm surprised no one has mentioned that within the city's finance department.

[}Dragon{]

One of the cost problems is every agency thinks it needs something no one else does- this lightbar or that, this cage or that, radars, MDT, video, the list goes on. Fire departments are even worse- every fire engine is custom made- when three chassis and three engine/tranny choices would serve 95% of the need. After all- it needs only to carry the medics and squirt water...due respect to the fire fighters on BARF.


:shame

A city engine is going to be different than a rural engine. There are a ton of considerations when spec'g a rig, like the area, population, weather, water availability/supply and specific mission vs. general purpose.

[}Dragon{]

Harley also thinks that pushrods are still cutting edge. :wtf

Budget wise, throwing premium in your fleet when they don't need it is just throwing money away. I'm surprised no one has mentioned that within the city's finance department.


To change it they'd have to fund a study. :nerd

[NorCalBusa]

:shame

A city engine is going to be different than a rural engine. There are a ton of considerations when spec'g a rig, like the area, population, weather, water availability/supply and specific mission vs. general purpose.

Of course. That's why 3x3 choices= 9 configs; you're all set:Party

[Kornholio]

To change it they'd have to fund a study. :nerd

Considering the cost of fuel, I can't imagine that a study would cost more than a year supply of premium gasoline. :nerd

[}Dragon{]

Considering the cost of fuel, I can't imagine that a study would cost more than a year supply of premium gasoline. :nerd

Tell me, what would a similar study cost in the Army? :rofl

[Kornholio]

Tell me, what would a similar study cost in the Army? :rofl

I dunno, I'm not an officer. :twofinger

[zombi]

I saw Oakland recently got new firetrucks specially made to drive around the Oakland Hills narrow roads

[Sidewalk]

And maybe that would be better. I drive a diesel for work and find it consistently difficult in some areas to find fuel.I used to drive a deisel (not anymore) and I never had a problem.

Harley also thinks that pushrods are still cutting edge. :wtf

Budget wise, throwing premium in your fleet when they don't need it is just throwing money away. I'm surprised no one has mentioned that within the city's finance department.The Buell would ping quite nicely with less then premium. Not exactly cutting edge there either.

Ever deal with government finance? :laughing

Tell me, what would a similar study cost in the Army? :roflI can tell you that it would cost a lot, and then fail to yield any results in the USCG :twofinger