Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle, 2011
The all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. It's a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a host of specialized equipment and features.
Chevrolet made the announcement at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado. The Chevrolet Caprice PPV will be available for ordering next year and will hit the streets in early 2011.
Unlike other police cars on the market, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV is not based on existing "civilian" passenger-car model sold in North America.
It has been developed in key areas specifically for police duty, containing modern equipment and features:
The front seats are sculpted to "pocket" the equipment belt, which greatly increases the comfort for a great range of police officer sizes. The foam density of the seatback and cushion insert surfaces are designed to conform to the shape of an equipment belt's various items, too, allowing the officer's back to rest properly on the seatback surface.
The materials used in the seats were also carefully selected. High-wear materials were chosen to stand up to long hours of everyday use, while breathability, long-term durability and ease of cleaning were also important criteria.
Engineers worked on several iterations of the seat, testing a couple of versions in the field to get real-world feedback from police officers, who used prototype seats in their cruisers for a month. Their input helped determine the final design.
Class-leading space
The Chevrolet Caprice PPV is based on GM's global rear-drive family of vehicles that also underpins the Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture - 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) - along with a four-wheel independent suspension that delivers responsive high-performance driving characteristics that are crucial in some police scenarios.
Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle's long wheelbase also contributes to exceptional spaciousness. Compared to the primary competition:
To enable more room for interior equipment, the standard radio can be relocated to the trunk, allowing for an in-dash, touch-screen computer to be used.
Chevrolet Caprice on patrol: A brief history
Chevrolet's history with law enforcement is almost as old as the brand itself. Police departments have used Chevy sedans as police cars for decades, ordering them with basic equipment and powerful V-8 engines - including some special engines that weren't available in regular-production models, such as the 1959 Biscayne that was offered with up to 315 horsepower.
The full-size Chevrolets joined the force in 1976. All Chevrolet Caprice police cars - including the new, 2011 model - have carried the 9C1 order code. Here's a quick look back at Chevys on patrol:
* 1959 - Chevy Biscayne police model capable of 135 mph with specially tuned, police-only version of the 348-cubic-inch V-8 engine
* 1965 - The new "big-block" 396 engine is offered in Biscayne and Bel Air police cars, making them among the most powerful on patrol; a 427 V-8 was added in 1966
* 1976 - The 9C1 order code is given for the first time to a full-size Chevy police car package. It carries the Impala name.
* 1977 - The full-size Chevy is downsized. The 9C1 police package is retained, as is the Impala name.
* 1986 - The Caprice name replaces Impala, as the car is updated for the mid- and late-1980s - including the option of a powerful, 5.7-liter small-block V-8.
* 1991 - A new-generation Caprice is launched, with the 9C1 police car still on the beat.
* 1994 - The 260-horsepower (194 Nm) LT1 V-8 engine is offered in the Caprice 9C1, making it one of the fastest full-size police cars ever offered.
* 1996 - Caprice police car production ends, as GM's full-size, body-on-frame car architecture is discontinued.
* 2011 - The Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle returns to active duty.
- Powerful 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year
- Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety
- Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment
- Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference
- Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology
- Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt
The front seats are sculpted to "pocket" the equipment belt, which greatly increases the comfort for a great range of police officer sizes. The foam density of the seatback and cushion insert surfaces are designed to conform to the shape of an equipment belt's various items, too, allowing the officer's back to rest properly on the seatback surface.
The materials used in the seats were also carefully selected. High-wear materials were chosen to stand up to long hours of everyday use, while breathability, long-term durability and ease of cleaning were also important criteria.
Engineers worked on several iterations of the seat, testing a couple of versions in the field to get real-world feedback from police officers, who used prototype seats in their cruisers for a month. Their input helped determine the final design.
Class-leading space
The Chevrolet Caprice PPV is based on GM's global rear-drive family of vehicles that also underpins the Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture - 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) - along with a four-wheel independent suspension that delivers responsive high-performance driving characteristics that are crucial in some police scenarios.
Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle's long wheelbase also contributes to exceptional spaciousness. Compared to the primary competition:
- A larger interior volume - 112 cubic feet / 3,172 liters - than the Ford Crown Victoria, including nearly 4 inches (101 mm) more rear legroom
- The barrier between the front seat and rear seat is positioned farther rearward, allowing for full front-seat travel and greater recline for officer comfort
- At 18 cubic feet (535 liters) free space (beyond battery located in trunk), the Caprice's trunk volume is large enough to accommodate a full-size spare tire under a flat load surface in the trunk storage area.
- High-output alternator
- Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers
- Standard 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps
- Large, four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads
- Heavy-duty suspension components
- Police-calibrated stability control system
- Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.
To enable more room for interior equipment, the standard radio can be relocated to the trunk, allowing for an in-dash, touch-screen computer to be used.
Chevrolet Caprice on patrol: A brief history
Chevrolet's history with law enforcement is almost as old as the brand itself. Police departments have used Chevy sedans as police cars for decades, ordering them with basic equipment and powerful V-8 engines - including some special engines that weren't available in regular-production models, such as the 1959 Biscayne that was offered with up to 315 horsepower.
The full-size Chevrolets joined the force in 1976. All Chevrolet Caprice police cars - including the new, 2011 model - have carried the 9C1 order code. Here's a quick look back at Chevys on patrol:
* 1959 - Chevy Biscayne police model capable of 135 mph with specially tuned, police-only version of the 348-cubic-inch V-8 engine
* 1965 - The new "big-block" 396 engine is offered in Biscayne and Bel Air police cars, making them among the most powerful on patrol; a 427 V-8 was added in 1966
* 1976 - The 9C1 order code is given for the first time to a full-size Chevy police car package. It carries the Impala name.
* 1977 - The full-size Chevy is downsized. The 9C1 police package is retained, as is the Impala name.
* 1986 - The Caprice name replaces Impala, as the car is updated for the mid- and late-1980s - including the option of a powerful, 5.7-liter small-block V-8.
* 1991 - A new-generation Caprice is launched, with the 9C1 police car still on the beat.
* 1994 - The 260-horsepower (194 Nm) LT1 V-8 engine is offered in the Caprice 9C1, making it one of the fastest full-size police cars ever offered.
* 1996 - Caprice police car production ends, as GM's full-size, body-on-frame car architecture is discontinued.
* 2011 - The Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle returns to active duty.
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How to Determine If You Need a Lawyer for Your Car Accident Case
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1. Property Damage Cases
As a general rule, if you suffered no personal injuries, you should be able to settle your case with the opposing insurance adjuster for approximately the same amount of money that an attorney could obtain for you. In this type of case, you are entitled to money to repair or replace your car and for the use of a rental vehicle until your car is repaired or replaced. It does not require legal skill to obtain repair estimates for the damage to your car or to determine the fair market value of you car. For repairs, simply get quotes from reputable repair shops and compare them to the amount offered by the adjuster. If your car has been totaled, determine the fair market value of your car by consulting reference sources such as the Kelly Blue Book, NADA Used Car Guides or Edmunds. These publications provide accurate information for most makes and models of cars.
2.Minor Injury Cases
If your case involves personal injuries, a more detailed analysis is required. If the injures are minor and you fully recover from the injuries in a few days, you probably do not need an attorney. Minor injuries are ones that result in less than a $1,000.00 in medical bills. To obtain a fair settlement for your minor injury claim, educate yourself sufficiently to negotiate with the insurance adjuster. To educate yourself, go online or to the bookstore and obtain one of the many self help guides for car accident victims. These guides are excellent resources for dealing with the minor injury claims. Like the property damage only type cases, minor injury cases usually do not justify the use of an attorney. In such cases, the attorney’s fee generally results in a lower net settlement to the claimant because the value of the claim is low and can not be appreciably increased.
3. Major Injury Cases
If your case involves anything more than property damage and minor injuries, it is likely that you will benefit by hiring an attorney. Most people do not typically have the necessary negotiation skills, knowledge of the law and experience in evaluating damages to obtain a fair settlement value for major injury cases. As such, when negotiating with an insurance adjuster, non-lawyers are at a distinct disadvantage. Do not be misled by the adjuster's statements that hiring an attorney will reduce your net settlement or delay payment for your claim. The insurance industries own statistics do not support these statements. In 2004, the Insurance Resource Council completed a study that found that people who used an attorney received an average of 3½ times more money in settlement than those individuals who settled on their own. Thus, if you seek to obtain a fair settlement for your injuries, the use of an experienced personal injury lawyer is vitally required.
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