NYPD gets fleet of 140 new hybrid SUVs with high-tech features to thwart ambushes
The NYPD is shifting gears away from gas guzzlers!
Cops on Thursday unveiled a fleet of 140 new fuel-efficient hybrid SUVs that feature a high-tech new “perimeter alert” mode to thwart street ambushes.
The gleaming white Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles — which generally cost about $50,000 each — feature cutting-edge tools that improve patrolling in the densely-packed Big Apple, said Steven Ciregna, executive director of NYPD fleet services division.
“We’re all about safety, both officer safety and public safety, [and] these vehicles come equipped with what’s called the police perimeter alert,” Ciregna said at a press event at Floyd Bennett Field.
“It uses onboard sensors to monitor 270 degrees to the side and behind the vehicle to prevent and warn the officers of any ambush or anyone walking up to the vehicle.”
The vehicles also have a “manual pursuit mode button” that help cops “improve drivability and power delivery during critical scenarios,” according to the SUV’s website.
On Thursday, a police officer took The Post for a ride-along at Floyd Bennett field to demonstrate how the SUV better maneuvers sharp turns and quick stops during police chases.
The vehicles also feature a “dark car mode” that allows officers to “effortlessly switch off all internal lights and dim the drive console to help keep you and your vehicle safely hidden,” the website states.
Along with the new technology, the vehicles eat up roughly 35% percent less fuel than the department’s old cars, Ciregna said.
They also feature crash avoidance tools, blind spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking — which are “vital in densely populated areas like New York City,” Ciregna said.
The department also added new tow trucks and ESU REP vehicles to its fleet, he said.