After a 15 year hiatus, General Motors is returning to the Police car market with its all-new law enforcement only Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol vehicle (PPV). Scheduled to hit the roads in early 2011, the new Chevy Caprice is based on the venerable Zeta platform and features an extra long wheelbase of 118.5 inches. Powered by a 6.0 liter LS2 V8 rated at an estimated 355 HP with 384 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six speed auto transmission, the LS2 Powered Caprice should stack up favorably performance wise against the 340 HP HEMI Dodge Charge police edition and prove far quicker than the ubiquitous 250 HP 4.6 Liter V8 powered Ford Crown Victoria.

The Caprice will be available with two engine choices, the fire breathing LS2 V8 or the more docile V6 for those departments not needing as much power.

The usual Police package goodies will abound; high output alternator, 18 inch steel wheels, heavy duty four wheel independent suspension and a police calibrated stability control system. On the interior, the new Caprice will feature a futuristic touch screen display, sculpted seats that account for the varying size equipment belts and a rear seat barrier that has been pushed back 4 inches, in order to allow for additional front seat travel and added comfort during those long tours.

Overall, the law enforcement Caprice is an excellent and very capable package and it should prove to be significant competition for the current Dodge Charger and Ford Crown Victoria platforms. We expect it to be widely adapted by numerous agencies across the country.

Keep watch for the new Chevy Police Caprice car on a road near you very soon and hopefully not in the rearview mirror.