The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (often referred to simply as CVPI or P71) is the law enforcement version of the Ford Crown Victoria. It is the most widely used automobile in law enforcement departments of the United States and Canada. In April 2011, Ford stopped accepting orders for the CVPI, instead offering a version of the Ford Taurus.
After the discontinuation of the Chevrolet Caprice, Ford held a near-monopoly on the market for police cruisers in North America for over a decade, because the conventional rear-wheel drive, V8 power, and body-on-frame construction are advantageous for police use. The CVPI's body-on-frame construction allowed inexpensive repairs after accidents without the need to straighten the chassis. Rear-wheel drive made the car easier to avoid spin-outs during hard maneuvers than front drive rivals, and allowed it to better withstand rough driving over curbs and other obstacles in the urban environment.
In 1998, Ford restyled the Crown Victoria, eliminating the "aero" look that the car had from 1992 to 1997 and adopting the more conservative styling of the Mercury Grand Marquis. Both cars included restyled front and rear end components.
1999 introduced the "Crown Victoria Police Interceptor" name, with a badge on the trunk lid replacing the 1998 "Crown Victoria" badge.
The year 2003 brought a minor redesign. The interior door panels and seats were freshened, with side-impact airbags becoming an option.
Following the criticism of fires following highway-speed rear-end collisions, 2005 and later model Police Interceptors now come with an optional automatic fire suppression system and special "trunk packs" designed to prevent cargo from penetrating the fuel tank in a collision.
This car was donated by the Ford Motor Company and outfitted by the Titusville, Florida Police Department.