Ford's 2020 Explorer for police has hidden lifesaving design feature

[Harley Lover]

Interesting addition to the Interceptor that I would like to have in my civilian version were I to purchase one:

Ford Motor Co., which supplies 65 percent of U.S. police vehicles, has responded to the growing concern by redesigning the body of the 2020 Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility with 160 pounds of extra steel, creating a new protective frame.

And while all vehicles on the road must meet a federal impact safety standard of 50 mph, the Police Interceptor is the only SUV in the world that claims to provide rear-impact protection for cops at up to 75 mph, based on testing at Ford's crash barrier facility in Dearborn.

Full article: https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2019/02/11/ford-2020-explorer-interceptor-police-car/2782304002/

[J-150]

New safety feature: no more exhausting the cabin

[blwnsmoke]

The 5th gen had the same 75mph rear impact rating.  It involved the 3rd row beimg removed and an X brace installed.  Id love to see a doagram of this "extra steel" to see what Ford did.

[T-dubz]

I was hoping they added the “tombstone” option from the death race mustang lol

[jgonza5]

On 2/14/2019 at 4:13 PM, Harley Lover said:

Interesting addition to the Interceptor that I would like to have in my civilian version were I to purchase one

In addition to any bracing not present in the civilian model, you would also need to swap out the mini-spare tire.

The full-size spare tire secured in the factory location is necessary to achieve police-rated 75-mph rear-impact crash-test performance attributes on the interceptors.