Stellantis’ Ram trucks have created a game-changing, aggressive pickup truck for the police force that not only performs the tough duties, but is also pursuit-ready.
According to a post by Carbuzz, police departments have had pickup trucks as part of their fleets, but none ticked all the boxes to qualify as a pursuit-ready truck, apart from the Ford F-150 Police Responder and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Police Pursuit Vehicle.
Now though, Ram has changed that by tailoring the 2500 heavy-duty pickup for pursuit duty, equipped with a V8 engine capable of hitting 60 mph in under 9 seconds.
What is a Pursuit-Rated Vehicle?
The Michigan State Police has set standards that classify whether a vehicle is fit to chase suspects at high speeds safely or not.
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Vehicles must feature quick acceleration times, impressive braking distances over 20 back-to-back panic stops from 60 mph, and lastly, the vehicle must finish at least 32 laps of the police department’s test course without mechanical failures.
Although Ram supplies Special Service Vehicles to the police that are based on pickup trucks from the 1500 to the 3500, modified for the department’s use with upgraded alternators, wiring, and big tires, they aren’t suited for hardcore pursuit duties.
Ram Chose The 2500 For Pursuit Duty
In a world that follows the ‘lighter means faster’ policy, Ram chose its heavy-duty pickup truck, the 2500, and converted it into a pursuit-ready beast, the looks of which alone could intimidate suspects.
Known as the Emergency Service Response Vehicle, it gets a 4.10:1 limited-slip rear differential, 18-inch wheels as opposed to the 17-inch standard set, and dual alternators that can handle up to 400 amps of capacity, replacing the 220-amp single unit.
Everything else on the truck remains standard, including the four-wheel drive system and the naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V8 engine that produces 405 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Stats That Qualified The Ram 2500 as a Pursuit-Rated Pickup Truck
The Ram 2500 tailored for police pursuits can hit 60 mph in 8.3 seconds and boasts a top speed of 103 mph, and can reach that number within a half-mile distance. In addition, the 2500 did 40 laps of the police test track without any mechanical failure, qualifying it as a pursuit-rated truck.
But will Ram stop here with its exclusive 2500 pursuit pickup truck? Not really. Apart from parent company Stellantis’ pursuit-rated Dodge Durango, a new Dodge Charger is reportedly in the works.
Ram’s leadership is said to be in touch with police departments to understand their requirements for a patrol car. Given Dodge’s experience in supplying older generation Chargers to the police departments, it won’t be too hard to pitch a Charger that caters to the department’s needs.
