Dodge in Hot Pursuit of Police Car Market

Not Everyone Will Be Happy to See Dodge's Hot New LX Cars in Police Uniforms

Remember the Dodge Diplomat? OK, it didn't come along at a particularly exciting moment in the brand's history and

Every time a new Dodge Charger sedan or Dodge Magnum sport wagon pulls into your rearview mirror you may get an uneasy feeling. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

therefore had styling reminiscent of three stacked boxes and about as much presence as a K-car, but it was the last rear-wheel drive V8-powered sedan that came with a police package.

If the lack of styling didn't cause disdain, most people won't have fond memories of blue and white, black and white, or all-white Diplomats for the obvious "do you know how fast you were going" reasons, which is the same reason that honest citizens who drive within the flow of traffic but still manage to get ticketed due to speed limits set lower than what is deemed safe for today's modern vehicles, hate Ford Crown Victorias and Chevrolet Impalas.

News flash: soon you will get that same uneasy feeling every time a new Dodge Charger sedan or Dodge Magnum sport wagon pulls into your rearview mirror. Whether strong sales of police specification Chargers and Magnums, what Chrysler Group no doubt would like, will enhance the cars' images or turn fans off will remain to

Only four years ago Chrysler launched its special police-equipped 2002 Intrepid. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

be seen, but whatever the outcome the number three player in the Big 3 rivalry has designs on getting back into the policing business in a big way.

But the new LX sedan and wagon aren't the first Chrysler Group models to be fitted with flashing lights and specially tuned suspension systems, etcetera, since the old Diplomat. Only four years ago, after a twelve year hiatus, the automaker launched its specially equipped 2002 Chrysler Intrepid (see new vehicle review archives under Chrysler for: 2003 Chrysler Intrepid Police Cruiser Road Test), touting the advantages of V6 fuel economy, front-wheel drive handling and cab-forward design for interior roominess.