This is the only police pickup that has a pursuit rating and will be restyled for the New Year.
In 2017, the Ford F-150 Police Responder was first introduced. Law enforcement agencies across North America quickly adopted it. They were impressed by its off-road capabilities and towing ability. A new version of this Police Responder is now available, built on the 2021 F150. The 2021 Police Responder will be more adaptable to different patrol situations thanks to its higher top speed and automatic four-wheel drive setting for its transfer case.
The F-150 pursuit vehicle can now travel at 120 mph (197 km/h), up from the previous Police Responder’s speed of 100 mph (161 km/h). Although a buck twenty may not seem like much, most modern midsize sedans can reach that speed, and even exotic sports cars, it should be sufficient for most freeway pursuits. The 2021 Police Responder has the same torque-on demand transfer case as the Raptor. It also features an automatic four-wheel drive setting which will provide traction and convenience for pursuits that traverse varied terrain.
This pickup is powered by a powerful powertrain. Standard equipment includes a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with 400 horsepower and 500 pounds-feet (268, kilowatts, 678 newton meterss). This powertrain is connected via a 10-speed auto gearbox to the wheels. This is an increase over the old pickup’s 375 horsepower and 470 lbft (280kW and 637Nm). The 2021 F-150 Police Responder receives the FX4 off-road option, but Ford chose to install a new all-terrain tire. According to the Blue Oval, the new Goodyear Wrangler Enforcer rubber is capable of sustaining sustained driving at this new top speed without sacrificing offroad traction.
Cool tech upgrades are also available for the F-150 Police Responder. It comes standard with automatic pedestrian detection and emergency braking. However, there is a button on the dash which temporarily disables the system for close pursuits or pit maneuvers. The engine-idle feature is a special feature that allows the driver to take out the ignition key and lock all doors, without affecting the lights or siren. Cloud-connected Sync 4 infotainment is standard and brings over-the-air updates for the pickup.
The F-150 Police Responder is similar to other Ford law enforcement vehicles. It has revised seat bolsters that make it easier to enter and exit the vehicle when you are wearing protective gear. Additionally, its darker interior will withstand more daily abuse. Ford is happy to arrange for various upfits by removing the center console. Ford offers a standard towing capacity and a cap of 11,000 pounds. The payload rating is 2,030 pounds. This is more than sufficient for most law enforcement activities.
The 2021 Ford F-150 police responder, like its predecessor, should provide the type of versatility, on-and off-road performance many rural and backcountry agencies require. Although it has some technological advancements, it still retains the basic goodness of the F-150 . However, as we learned in our time with F-150 civilian, the styling and features have been updated to reflect the modern times. The F-150 Police Responder 2021 will be manufactured at the Kansas City Assembly Plant. It will arrive in fleets this autumn.