Purpose Built Police Car from Carbon Motors and Lotus

The days of the “Police Interceptor” version of a big Ford sedan or any retail car available to the general public may be coming to a close, at least that’s what Carbon Motors is trying to do with a bit of help from Lotus Engineering. Those two companies have teamed up to build a purpose built police patrol vehicle, not a warmed over version of the family sedan, this is a vehicle designed from the start to be driven by law enforcement agencies and suited to their particular needs.

The specs aren’t bad, either. We’re talking about a 300 horsepower diesel with 420 foot pounds of torque mated to a 6 speed automatic. 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, the quarter mile in 14.5 @ 98.0 mph. Top speed is 155 mph. Lateral Acceleration is .85 g and it gets 28 – 30 mpg.

Much more below:

Check out these features:

– All-new purpose-built vehicle platform exclusively for law enforcement
– Meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements
– Designed for 250,000 mile durability specification
– Turn-key built-to-direct-order
– 24/7/365 call center support
– Improved end-of-vehicle-life process
– Comprehensive warranty
– Aluminum spaceframe body structure
– 75 mile per hour rear crash capability
– Cockpit with fully-integrated factory fitted law enforcement equipment
– Integrated emergency lights, spot lights, take down lights, directional stick
– Segment exclusive coach rear doors (safer suspect insertion / removal)
– Vehicle dynamic control
– Anti-lock brakes
– Optimized approach / departure angles and ground clearance
– NIJ Level III-A (or better) ballistic protection (front doors / dash panel)
– Purpose-designed seat for use with on-body equipment
– Heated and ventilated seats
– Heads up display
– Reverse backup camera
– Driver specific intelligent key
– 360 degree exterior surveillance capability
– Automatic license plate recognition system
– Video and audio surveillance of rear passenger compartment
– 130hz – 350hz bass siren
– Nightvision compliant interior illumination
– Integrated forward looking infrared system (FLIR)
– Integrated shotgun mounts
– Optimized storage capability (compartment and cargo)
– Integrated front and rear passenger compartment partition
– Hoseable rear passenger compartment
– Integrated push bumpers and PIT capability

From the Carbon Motors press release:

Carbon Motors Corporation and Lotus Engineering jointly announced today that the two companies will collaborate on the development of the world’s first purpose-built law enforcement patrol vehicle. Terms of the deal were undisclosed.

The first of its kind, this special purpose vehicle will provide a superior performing product with a much safer and more efficient operating environment for law enforcement officers, and offer a significantly lower total cost-of-ownership. A significant reduction in CO2 emissions is targeted in addition to a 30% – 50% fuel economy improvement.

William Santana Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Carbon Motors, remarked, “We have been seeking a world-class high technology engineering alliance that would help us provide the best possible vehicle for our country’s First Responders — we have found that in Lotus Engineering. We thank the team at Lotus for joining the cause to provide the over 800,000 women and men in uniform patrolling our homeland with the appropriate equipment to help keep our cities safe. This project is projected to create well over 10,000 new direct and indirect American jobs with a positive economic impact of over $3 billion. Lotus will be playing a key role in helping us to achieve our goals. “

“I am personally very excited at this opportunity to demonstrate, not only to the USA, but also to the world what two creative companies such as Carbon Motors Corporation and Lotus Engineering can achieve. We will do everything possible to ensure the success of this tremendously exciting, innovative and creative project which, in my personal view, will meet the needs of the law enforcement automotive segment in the USA,“ said Michael J Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer, Group Lotus plc.

Trevor J Rudderham, Carbon Motors Vice President and Chief Development Officer, commented, “Lotus Engineering is a great fit with Carbon Motors. Their extensive experience with aluminum structures and composite materials ties in perfectly with our product assumptions. Their acknowledged expertise in vehicle dynamics and fuel economy aligns very well with our customers needs. Perhaps most importantly, however, their ‘change the rules’ mantra resonates strongly with Carbon Motors approach. I am expecting great things from this relationship.”

Simon Wood, Engineering Director, Lotus Engineering said “The innovative business model, strong product proposition and demonstrated market demand, combined with seasoned and experienced leadership provide the key ingredients to make Carbon Motors successful. Lotus Engineering is very keen and excited to bring our technical know-how to the project to not only ensure that the law enforcement customer’s needs are met, but also to demonstrate that the rules can indeed be changed in the automotive sector. Lotus’ reputation in the CleanTech arena is growing fast and our involvement with Carbon Motors will accelerate this trend with the high-tech clean diesel offered at the product’s launch and also by working on in-cycle actions for additional clean technology derivatives.”

Link: Carbon Motors