Ford Explorer Remains Quickest Police Car Sold Today, for Now
Although the law enforcement profession is far more dynamic than just high-speed emergency responses, many departments require their vehicles to meet what’s called a "purchasing spec." Vehicles must meet certain requirements to be eligible for patrol but still have enough performance to be effective when responding to more dangerous situations.
The all-wheel-drive 2022 Ford Police Interceptor Utility (FPIU), with its 400-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, remains the quickest police vehicle sold today, getting to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and 100 mph in 13.5 seconds during Michigan State Police testing.
The MSP also got their hands on a Ford Mach-E police prototype vehicle. According to the MSP, this police version has all-wheel drive and 480 horsepower, so it’s basically the Ford Mach-E GT with red and blue lights. It reached 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and hit 100 mph in 11.9 seconds. Ford says the street version should hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, but it's safe to assume the police-going version's slower acceleration is due to added equipment.
Read the article at Car and Driver.
AAA Finds Driver Assist Vehicle Systems Struggle in Real-World Conditions
A new survey from AAA finds that 40 percent of Americans expect driver support systems, with names like Autopilot, ProPILOT or Pilot Assist, to have the ability to drive the car by itself, indicating a gap in consumer understanding of these technologies and reality.
AAA also tested these systems and found that they are in fact not designed to take over the task of driving and can be significantly challenged by every day, real-world conditions such as poor lane markings, unusual traffic patterns and stationary vehicles.
As this type of technology becomes more commonplace on the road, AAA cautions consumers not to take vehicle system names at face value and, although meant to assist in the driving task, should never be used as a replacement for driver engagement. In order to reduce the misuse of driver support vehicle systems, drivers are encouraged to educate themselves by requesting a demonstration at the dealership as well as thoroughly reading the vehicle owner’s manual.
Read the article at AAA Newsroom.
Good IIHS Headlight Ratings Linked to Lower Crash Rates
The headlight ratings program developed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is reducing dangerous nighttime crashes in the real world, a recent study shows.
Nighttime crash rates per mile are nearly 20 percent lower for vehicles with headlights that earn a good rating in the IIHS evaluation, compared with those with poor-rated headlights, the study found. For vehicles with acceptable or marginal headlights, crash rates are 15 percent and 10 percent lower than for those with poor ratings.
“Driving at night is 3 times as risky as driving during the day,” says IIHS Senior Research Engineer Matthew Brumbelow, who conducted the study. “This is the first study to document how much headlights that provide better illumination can help.”
Read the article at IIHS.
Agile Fleet Webinar: Vehicle Fleet Technology for Social Services Fleets
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 | 2 p.m. Eastern
The many departments of Social Services across North America promote and safeguard the well being of their communities by strengthening, empowering, and preserving the dignity of individuals and families, providing quality services and supporting clients in achieving self-sufficiency, and more.
If the pandemic has changed your fleet usage, now may be the time to rightsize, launch a shared vehicle fleet, or automate the one you have.
Live Event! Sign up now, space is running out. REGISTER TODAY!
Used Car Prices Hit Record High in September
Three-year-old vehicles - typically the cars and trucks that are most in-demand -- increased in value by 4.6%. Throughout the entire month, buyers paid more than the Manheim Market Report (MMR) values. Despite there being higher prices, 65% of shoppers ended up buying a vehicle, compared to 52% in 2019.
Every type of vehicle saw price increases in September, but some increased more than others. The price of a van rose nearly 41% from September 2020. Pickup trucks, already among the most expensive used vehicles, rose by another 17.8%. Overall, prices were up 27.1%.
Dealers may have gotten top dollar for their inventory in September, but they sold fewer vehicles. Cox Automotive, the parent company of Manheim, reports that total used vehicle sales were down 13% year-over-year on a seasonally adjusted basis (SAAR). Consumers who are able to find a new vehicle to their liking, there may have never been a better time to trade in a used car or truck.
Read the article at Consumer Affairs.
