CHEVROLET CAPRICE PPV IS READY FOR DUTYAn all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. Its a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that debut with a V-8 engine and follow up with a V-6 in the 2012 model year.   The specialized police unit will include a host of specialized equipment and features as well. Caprice PPV joins the front-wheel-drive Impala PPV and Tahoe PPV, making Chevrolet the only manufacturer to offer a full range of police vehicles.  The Caprice will be ready for duty by late summer 2011. The MSRP is $37,100. Unlike other police cars on the market, the 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.This is a no-compromises police car, said Al Oppenheiser, vehicle chief engineer, GM RWD and Performance Car. From the seats and console area to the safety features, everything was designed specifically for the way police officers will use it.Vehicle highlights include:Powerful 6.0L V-8, rated at 355 horsepower (265 kW), with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-100km/h  acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will be offered beginning in the 2012 model year.

• Six-speed automatic transmission with sport shift calibrations for high-performance driving.
• Exceptional braking performance with heavy-duty four-wheel discs and police-calibrated anti-lock system
• Six standard air bags and StabilTrak stability control
• Segment-leading interior space, with the center console area designed for computers and other police equipment
• Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their office, sculpted to fit the bulk of a typical equipment belt.
  Caprice PPV performance:

The Caprices 6.0-liter V-8 is rated at an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) with 384 lb-ft of torque (521 Nm). It is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission that is performance-calibrated for police duty. Additional, police car-specific powertrain and vehicle system features include:

• 2.92 axle ratio with standard limited-slip differential
• 170-amp high-output alternator with idle boost feature
• Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers
• Electric cooling fans and high-strength EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) coolant hosesA standard four-wheel independent suspensio n, with heavy-duty components, delivers responsive high-performance driving characteristics that are crucial in some police scenarios. A tight turning diameter of 11.4 m (38.06) feet and a generous ground clearance of 142.2 mm (5.6 inches) enable exceptional maneuverability. 
  Caprice PPV safetyOfficer safety was a fundamental element of the Caprice PPVs design and compared with competitors packages, it takes safety to the next level. The body structure features extensive use of high-strength steel and ultra-high-strength steel for greater strength and crash protection, while a complement of standard and available air bags offer great protection in the event of a crash. Dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags are standard, along with head curtain air bags for the driver and front passenger and front seat-back-mounted thorax air bags. The front seat-only head curtain air bags enable the use of a full-width prisoner partition for greater officer safety. Combined front and rear head curtain air bags are available.To help avoid crashes, the Caprice PPV includes standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control, with a special police calibration for aggressive driving maneuvers.  Large, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock (featuring a police-specific calibration) are also standard, along with strong, durable 18-inch steel wheels (with bolt-on center caps and wheels covers) that are matched with performance Goodyear P235/50R18 tires. 
  Caprice PPV comfortThe Caprice PPV was designed to provide maximum comfort so officers can do their job more effectively, and one of the most important features in that arena is seating comfort. 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 belts various items, too, allowing the officers back to rest properly on the seatback surface. The Chevrolet Caprice PPVs seats represent a revolution in comfort and utility for officers who spend long hours in their car, said Bob Demick, lead seat design manager. The shape also enhances entry and egress, making it easier for officers to exit the vehicle quickly. The seatback bolsters, for example, have been purposefully contoured to help pocket the equipment on the belt, which includes the gun, Taser and handcuffs, which rest comfortably in the sculpted lower bolsters. That also increases the longevity of the trim cover surface. Along with comfort, the materials used in the seats were also carefully selected. High-wear, low-friction 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. The drivers seat features eight-way power adjustability, with a reclining back and lumbar control as well as quick-adjust manual fore and aft movement for additional comfort. Theres also a built-in security panel. Also enhancing comfort is exceptional spaciousness. The Caprice PPV uses a long, 3,010 mm (118.5-inch) wheelbase, which enhances ride comfort while also enabling greater legroom. Compared to the primary competition, the Caprices advantages include:
• A larger interior volume 3,172 liters / 112 cubic feet more than the Ford Crown Victoria, including nearly 101 mm (4 inches) more rear legroom
• The barrier between the front seat and rear seat can be positioned farther rearward, allowing for full front-seat travel and greater recline for officer comfort
• The Caprices trunk includes 493 liters (17.4 cubic feet) of fully usable trunk space, to more easily accommodate police gear. Additionally, a full-size spare tire is located under a flat load surface in the trunk storage area. Input from the Law Enforcement Product Council influenced the design of the center console and shifter location. The center console was designed to better accommodate computers and other equipment, while the shifter was moved 88.9mm (3.5 inches)  closer to the driver and its shaft was shortened by 25.4mm (1 inch). This final design is more comfortable and enables greater access to the computer and other equipment. 
  Caprice PPV additional featuresA host of standard and available features are offered on the Caprice PPV that make it the ideal tool for police duty. They include:
• Standard driver information center in the instrument cluster with an oil life monitor and selectable Trap Speed feature that captures speed with tracking/pacing other vehicles
• Available auxiliary battery operates police equipment so that the main battery doesnt get run down. This can help reduce officer downtime and ensure that they dont become stranded in a potentially unsafe situation.
• Standard analog 160-mph certified speedometer, with 1-mph increments
• Standard stealth mode for exterior and interior lighting
• Standard trunk release button mounted on the instrument panel
• Available headlamp/tail lamp flasher system
• Available left hand spotlight
• Available roof hole (center or passenger side) for light bar
• Available disabled rear interior door locks and handles.
  Caprice on patrol: A brief history Chevrolets 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 werent 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 Caprice police cars including the new, 2011 model have carried the 9C1 order code. Heres 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 GMs full-size, body-on-frame car architecture is discontinued. 2011 The Caprice PPV returns to active duty.
  Gerry Paquette

Parts Manager
Kipp Scott GMC Buick Cadillac Ltd