FCA Wins California Police Car Contract

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV says it has won a contract to supply 580 specially equipped Dodge Charger sedans to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The updated Charger Pursuit will replace a variety of older-model police cruisers as they are retired from service over the next two years. FCA hails the order as the start of a shift by police departments back to sedans from SUVs such as Ford’s Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility vehicle.

Most of the CHP Charger Pursuits will be powered by FCA’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine that makes 290 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. A few of the cruisers will get 5.7-liters Hemi V-8 that generates as much as 370 hp.

Some of the new Charger Pursuit cars also will feature FCA’s Uconnect touchscreen systems. the 12.1-inch system is the largest in the segment, according to the carmaker.