2011-12 Dodge Charger police cars
Dodge Charger main page | 2006-10 Charger squads | Where Chargers are used | 2012 Comparisons
Dodge Charger Squads: New for 2012
The 2012 Dodge Charger police cars posted the fastest lap time ever recordered (1:33.70) at the Michigan State Police annual Police Vehicle Evaluation tests at Grattan Raceway in Belding, Michigan. The V6 model continues with the 292 horsepower engine, and averaged the fastest times for naturally aspirated (1:37.71) and E-85 capable (1:37.57) six-cylinder police cars.
The new performance comes from an optional 3.07 rear axle ratio with V6 and 3.06 rear axle with V8 (2.65 is standard on both); a recalibrated V8 engine controller with 151 mph maximum speed; new brake pads with silicone caliper boots to cut brake fade and improve both performance and durability (late availability); and new wheel hubs with lower deflection and vibration when braking. Other changes include a full color vehicle information center with engine-hour and idle-hour meters, and new police-specific front seats that accommodate equipment on officers' duty belts, with more lateral support for performance driving. The Hemi also gained 100,000 mile spark plugs.
Dodge Charger Squads: New for 2011
The highest performance police car in America, the Dodge Charger, has been re-engineered for the 2011 model year. The 2010 Charger had the best combination of tactical technology, safety, power, and efficiency, leading to its widespread adoption; the 2011 model is in for a tougher ride, going up against a new Chevy Caprice with a 355-horsepower, 6-liter V8 and rear wheel drive, as well as a panoply of Fords. For 2012, the list price for the Charger was $29,770 plus destination — just below R/T.
The new 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit’s performance suspension tuning, heavy-duty anti-lock vented-disc brakes (ABS), front- and rear-stabilizer bars, 18-inch performance tires on steel wheels and two-mode police-specific Electronic Stability Control (ESC) calibration make it hot-pursuit ready. It has redesigned front and rear multi-link suspension geometries to deliver a smooth comfortable ride for law enforcement officers.
Designed with the guidance of Dodge’s Police Advisory Board, the 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit’s mobile-command interior features a Police Interface Module for easy equipment integration, police-duty front seats, column-mounted automatic transmission with Auto Stick, red/white LED interior lighting for night-vision equipment and more. Dodge claimed the Charger was the only car in its class to have a standard Police Interface Module. For 2012, the front seats were replaced with more police-friendly ones.
| 2011 figures | Charger V6 | Charger Hemi | Caprice | Ford CVPI | Ford FWD/AWD | Ford AWD Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 292 @ 6400 | 370 @ 5150 | 355 @ 5300 | 250 @ 5000 | 280 @ 6250 | 365 @ 5,500 |
| Torque | 260 @ 4400 | 390 @ 4250 | 384 @ 4400 | 297 @ 4000 | 250 @ 4500 | 350 @ 1,500-5,250 |
| Weight | 4,021 | 4,253 | 4,339 | 4,214 | 4,184 | 4,443 |
| Transmission | 5 speed* | 5 speed | 6 speed | 4 speed | 6 speed | 6 speed |
| Headroom (F) | 38.6 | 38.7 | 39.5 | 39.0 | ||
| Hip room F/R | 56.2 / 56.1 | 56.6 / 57.9 | 57.4 / 56.1 | 56.3 / 55.9 | ||
| Leg room F/R | 41.8 / 40.1 | 42.1/43.2 | 41.6 / 38.0 | 41.9 / 40.0 | ||
| Trunk (cubic ft) | 16.5 | 17.4 | 20.6 | 16.6 | ||
* 8 speed possible in 2013 model year — police retain five speed in 2012.
The usual “keyless enter-and-go” system has proximity entry and a push-button start “with police strategy.” Standard features on pursuit cars include steering wheel mounted audio controls, UConnect voice command, power six way driver and manual front passenger seat, dual power outlets, one USB outlet in the center stack, and dual zone a/c. For durability, police get 18 inch steel wheels.
The pursuit car still has a column shifter, but it has been redesigned for a more natural feel; it is now “in a vertical plane, rather than a rotational arc,” according to Police Fleet Manager.
The V6 has 50-state certification for optional E85 flex-fuel compatibility. A 5 year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty is included. Hemi gas mileage has been increased somewhat through “interactive deceleration fuel shutoff,” which cuts all fuel to the engine around 5% - 8% of the time the Charger is moving (according to Police Fleet Manager).
Dodge Charger Pursuit protects officers with uncompromising safety and security equipment, including standard advanced multistage driver and front-passenger air bags, seat-mounted side-thorax air bags, supplemental side-curtain air bags for front and rear outboard passengers, driver’s knee bag, tire-pressure monitoring and more. The unibody has more high-strength steel than before, for higher safety.
The four wheel heavy duty antilock brakes are part of the stability control system, with special programming to allow full or part-operation function; rain brake support, hill start assist, and ready alert braking are all included. (Rain brake support moves the calipers closer to the rotors when the wipers are active, keeping the rotors dry). The pursuit car also has a unique performance suspension, with load-levelling intelligence via Monroe Nivomat rear shocks.
Visibility has been improved via narrower, thinner pillars, lower rear-view mirrors (which were also moved forward), and moving the windshield top back by 3 1/2 inches.
The 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit is available for ordering through the fleet people. Fleet operations have been upgraded with new staff, and its head, Peter Grady, reports directly to Sergio Marchionne. There is also now a police vehicle quality and service issue resolution council which meets weekly.
As in the past, a stealth mode shuts off some interior lights and dims others, keeping an unobtrusive red dome light on, providing enough light for “official business” while remaining dark on the outside, and unseen by speeders. Another police item is the ability to deactivate rear doors and windows.
The bucket seats continue, but with more hip and shoulder room, more side space for a holster, and space between the seats for ancillary weapons. The front seats recline more, and the doors open wider — the front doors open 21% wider, the rear doors 29% wider. The windshield is three inches taller for a better outward view. The trunk has an optional aftermarket drawer for electronics, and now has a gooseneck hinge to open the lid higher; it will also support a 25-pound load (for squad cars at least), so that equipment can be safely mounted to its underside.
Law and Order wrote that Chrysler made changes to the seats to improve comfort, benchmarking the Toyota Avalon and Lexus LS460:
...most seats start out with a stamped steel seat bottom. To that, different layers, thicknesses and densities of foam are added. That means seat comfort comes only from the foam layers. The most comfortable seats, however, start out as a tube frame with a nylon web seat the bottom. And that is what the new Charger has.
The 2011 Dodge Charger also has better foam layers, with the webbing covered with a layer of firm foam, then a layer of memory foam. For the police, pressure point mapping was used to reduce “hot spots” for those wearing police-duty belts, and improved the seat fabric.
The front fascia was also redesigned to make it easier for upfitters; instead of having to remove the entire front clip, including headlights, the front clip can now be easily removed, sans headlights, using easily found fasteners (via an access panel above, and under the air dam below). The new grille also increases airflow into the radiator at idle, and is cheaper to replace. First generation push bumpers, interior partitions, and center consoles will, however, fit — and will not be hit by the redesigned side airbags.
Dodge Charger squad car performance (Michigan State Police)
| Dodge Charger V6 | Dodge Charger Hemi | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Sec) | 2011 | 2010 | 2011 | 2010 | |
| 0-50 | 6.47 | 6.46 | 4.76 | 4.63 | |
| 0-60 | 8.65 | 8.64 | 6.24 | 6.00 | |
| 0-70 | 11.33 | 11.21 | 7.78 | 7.44 | |
| 0-80 | 14.26 | 14.03 | 9.73 | 9.32 | |
| 0-90 | 17.86 | 17.84 | 12.30 | 11.68 | |
| 0-100 | 23.85 | 22.74 | 14.99 | 14.21 | |
| TOP SPEED, mph | 130 | 137 | 146 | 146 | |
| Stopping Distance | 133.2 | 137.9 | 133.9 | 143.4 | |
2012 Dodge Charger squad car packages
For 2012, Mopar announced six factory-installed police-equipment packages for the 2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit cars, created with Crown North America and suppliers including Whelen, Setina, and Havis. Mopar extensively tested the packages, which have a three year, 36,000 mile warranty. The packages simplify the ordering/upfit process, allowing more predictable delivery times. The base police prep package for the 2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit includes the following:
- Wire Harness: Provides power, ground, and fusing for LED, lighting, siren, computer, modem, radar, or camera systems; integrates with the Vehicle Systems Interference Module (VSIM) 24-way connector and the 12-pin connector at the console.
- Power Distribution Center (PDC): Contains the fusing and relays for circuits in the wire harness, with two 100-amp main fuses to allow use of a timing device; it can channel timer system output to cameras, computers, modems, and printers.
- Slide-out Trunk Tray: 37.5-inch by 19-inch, for electrical and communications gear. Locking slides ease access. An industry-first integral ground buss bar prevents poor grounding, the most common equipment issue. The tray is height adjustable.
- Trunk Air-circulation Fan: helps electronic equipment by circulating heated or cooled air from the driver’s compartment into the trunk area.
- Siren Speaker: 100-watt siren driver meeting SAE Class A and California Title XIII requirements when matched with an appropriate amplifier; mounted behind the grille, it does not impact engine cooling.
The 2012 quick order packages are, in addition to the base prep (AYE) above:
- Patrol Package 1 (AYF): floor console, front-corner LED lamps, rear-corner LED lamps, front and rear wire harness, power-distribution center, siren speaker with bracket, trunk tray and trunk cooling fan
- Patrol Package 2 (AYH): floor console, push bumper, front and rear wire harness, power-distribution center, siren speaker and bracket, trunk tray and trunk cooling fan
- Patrol Package 3 (AYM): push bumper, floor console, front corner LED lamps, rear corner LED lamps, front and rear wire harness, power distribution center, siren speaker with bracket, trunk tray and trunk accessory cooling fan
- Slick Top Police Package 1 (AYN): floor console, front and rear wire harness, power-distribution center, siren speaker with bracket, trunk tray and trunk cooling fan
- Slick Top Police Package 2 (AYP): front-corner LED lamps, rear-corner LED lamps, front and rear wire harness, power distribution center, siren speaker with bracket, trunk tray and trunk cooling fan
Parts that may be ordered separately are the push bumper, siren speaker and bracket, grille lights, front and rear corner LED lights, side lights, visor lights, overhead light bars (full and limited feature versions), rear deck lights (normal and full width), police floor console, Can-Com siren system, floor mats, trunk tray, trunk cooling fan, spare tire relocation bracket, front and rear wire harnesses, power distribution center, splash guards, hitch receiver, and towing wire harness.
2011 Dodge Charger squad car equipment
Standard equipment includes the features noted earlier (e.g. load levelling performance suspension), as well as:
- 220-amp high-output alternator (up from 160 amps) with 800 CCA battery
- Severe duty engine cooling, transmission cooling, steering fluid cooling
- Rear differential: 200 mm for V6, 215 mm for Hemi
- P225/60R18 V-rated performance tires, Goodyear or Firestone
- 2.65:1 axle ratio (3.06:1 optional)
- 19 gallon gas tank
- Engine hour meter
- Rear defroster
- Stealth mode
- Unique, dedicated fused circuits
- Active head restraints
- Spot-lamp prep kit; optional left and right spot lamps; optional equipment mounting bracket
- Headliner with red/white dome light or street appearance (no dome light)
- 160-mph or 260-km/h (certified) calibrated speedometer
- Optional street appearance group: fog lamps, rear stabilizer bar, aluminum wheels, standard floor console, power heated mirrors
- Heavy duty cloth front bucket seats and optional vinyl rear fixed bench seat
- Easy path wiring grommet between underhood and passenger compartments
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Emergency Brake Assist
| 2010 Dodge Charger | 2011 Dodge Charger | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 200.1" | 199.9” |
| Width | 74.5" | 75.0" |
| Height | 58.2" | 58.7 |
| Track | 63" | 63.0 |
| Weight | 3,800 (V6) - 4,031 (V8) | 4,065 V6 / 4,290 5.7 |
| Interior volume | 104 cubic feet (120.2 EPA) | 140.8 c.f. (120.2 EPA) |
| Front shoulder room | 59.3 | 59.5 |
| Rear shoulder room | 57.6 | 57.9 |
For more information
Squad cars | Insider's Guide to Chrysler | Rear-Drive Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth cars
Dodge Charger main page | 2006-10 Charger squads | Where Chargers are used | 2010 Comparisons
Ryan’s Dodge Charger squad-car site • Challenger squads
