2013 Vehicle Tests: Michigan Vs. California

The Michigan State Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provided Police Magazine with preliminary results from the vehicle tests conducted in September and October of pursuit-rated patrol vehicles for the 2013 model year.

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Photo: Tony Gonzalez, LASDPhoto: Tony Gonzalez, LASD

The Michigan State Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provided Police Magazine with preliminary results from the vehicle tests conducted in September and October of pursuit-rated patrol vehicles for the 2013 model year. The following results include top speed, acceleration, and braking. The results are subject to change.

Patrol Cars

The Chevrolet Caprice PPV (3.6L V-8) recorded the highest top speed in this year's Michigan tests at 154 mph. Dodge's Charger Pursuit (3.6L V-8, 2.65 rear axle) wasn't far behind at 152 mph. The all-wheel-drive Ford Police Interceptor (3.5L V-6, twin turbo) also crossed the 150-mph threshold.

Ford's twin-turbo P.I. recorded the fastest 0-60 mph time in Michigan this year at 5.75 seconds, followed by the V-8 Caprice at 6.03 seconds and V-8 Charger (3.06 rear axle) at 6.08 seconds.

At the LASD tests, the V-8 Charger (3.06 rear axle) recorded the fastest 0-60 mph time at 5.85 seconds, followed by the V-8 Charger (2.65 rear axle) at 5.92 seconds, and the twin-turbo Ford P.I. at 6.17 seconds. In the 60-100 mph "closing speed" increment often crucial in pursuits, the V-8 Charger (3.06 rear axle) recorded the fastest time at 7.94 seconds followed by the twin-turbo Ford P.I. at 8.48 seconds, and V-8 Caprice at 8.85 seconds.

During the MSP evaluations, the all-wheel Ford P.I. (3.7L V-6) recorded the shortest stopping distance from 60-0 mph at 128.2 feet followed by the V-8 Caprice at 128.3 feet and V-8 Charger (3.06 rear axle) at 128.5 feet. In Southern California, Ford's P.I. sedans (3.5L and 3.7L) stopped at 136.05 feet and 136.23 feet respectively. The V-6 Charger needed 137.45 feet of asphalt, and the Caprice stopped in 139.58 feet.

The vehicles at the MSP were also tested on a 2-mile road course at Michigan's Grattan Raceway. The V-8 Caprice slightly edged out the twin-turbo Ford P.I. Ecoboost by a half second with both vehicles near a time of 1 minute, 35 seconds.

SUVs

The Ford P.I. Utility and Chevrolet Tahoe PPV reached top speeds of 132 mph and 137 mph, respectively. In Michigan, the vehicles accelerated from 0-60 mph at 7.96 seconds and 8.04 seconds. In Southern California, the P.I. Utility and Tahoe reached 0-60 mph in 8.33 seconds and 9.03 seconds.

In Michigan brake testing, the P.I. Utility and Tahoe reached a dead stop from 60 mph in 132.6 feet and 130.5 feet. In Southern California, the vehicles stopped in 144.08 feet and 167.11 feet respectively.

Motorcycles

With Kawasaki's Concours 14P absent, the BMW R1200-RTP sport touring bike easily topped the three cruiser competitors in Michigan's top-speed test, reaching 128 mph. The Victory Commander I reached 115 mph, while Harley-Davidson's Road King and Electra Glide (with batwing faring) reached 108 mph and 103 mph respectively.

BMW's cycle also recorded the fastest 0-60 mph time in Michigan of 4.38 seconds, followed by Victory's Commander I at 5.66 seconds, H-D Road King at 6.04 seconds, and H-D Electra Glide at 6.13 seconds. In Southern California, Honda's ST1300 recorded the fastest 0-60 mph time of 4.41 seconds followed by BMW’s R1200 at 4.52 seconds.

In brake testing in Michigan, BMW's cycle stopped quickest from 60-0 mph at 143.9 feet followed by H-D's Electra Glide at 144.2 feet, H-D's Road King at 150.7 feet, and Victory’s Commander I at 160.3 feet. In Southern California, the Electra Glide needed 136.5 feet to stop, followed by the Victory Commander I at 139.7 feet, BMW at 144.04 feet, Honda ST1300 at 146.89 feet, and Road King at 147.87 feet.

Note: Honda's ST1300 and Harley-Davidson's Electra Glide Special weren't tested in Michigan.

Related:

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PHOTOS: 2013 Police Vehicle Testing

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