The Fastest Police Cars in the US

Until the 1950s, police cars were standard cars modified for law enforcement duty as every respective agency saw fit. From the 1950s, however, the Big Three in Detroit started catering to law enforcement needs with specially developed cars based on their civilian-spec equivalents.

Sedans and coupes were very popular with the guys and girls in blue during those days. But in the last decades, full-size pickup trucks and subcompact- to full-size sport utility vehicles have slowly replaced them due to factors that include their increased utility. Pickups, however, aren't really fast. Utility vehicles are, yet sports cars and sedans are faster still. Law enforcement agencies began testing police cars in the 1950s, and thanks to the likes of Michigan State Police, we can easily tell which are the fastest of the lot.

The following list of the fastest police cars in the United States of America includes a handful of imports, although it should come as no surprise that American muscle dominates the ranking. Speaking of which, let's kick things off with a full-size muscle car with a massive V8 lump.

20. Dodge Polara Pursuit: 149.6 mph

Easily the most revered police car of the 1960s, the Polara Pursuit with the 440-ci Magnum recorded a simply ridiculous 149.6 miles per hour (240.7 kilometers per hour) at Chrysler's Chelsea test track in Michigan. The near-150-mph top speed record wouldn't be broken for decades.

Measuring a little under 19 feet in length, the Polara Pursuit 440 Magnum was initially prioritized for the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles Police Department. For 1970, the naturally-aspirated V8 powerplant's compression ratio would be dropped to comply with tougher emissions standards. Power dropped to 370 ponies in 1971, then to a meager 285 horsepower in 1972. Not long after, the Polara would be discontinued in favor of the Dodge Monaco.

Originally rated at 375 horsepower and 480 pound-feet (651 Nm), the Polara 440 Magnum came with 3.23 gears, a four-barrel carb, and – of course – a special cam. 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) took merely 6.3 seconds, and the quarter-mile dash was dealt with in 14.3 clicks.

19. C4 Corvette: 150 mph

General Motors never modified the long-running Corvette for police duty. Be that as it may, certain agencies have run or are running Corvettes that were seized from the baddies. The Sioux City Police Department, for example, confiscated a 1986 model year 'Vette in the early 1990s.

Since 1996, the department has been using the V8-powered sports car to promote its Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. Knoepfler Chevrolet overhauled the car in 2018. As part of the restoration, the dealership switched the interior lighting to LEDs. Black wheels and a low-profile light bar also need to be mentioned, along with a new headliner, new carpeting, as well as a new center console.

For 1986, the C4 offered either 230 or 235 horsepower from a 350-ci lump with either iron or aluminum heads. Tipping the scales at 3,101 pounds (1,407 kilograms) for the coupe, the 1986 Chevrolet Corvette maxes out at 150 miles per hour (241 kilometers per hour; GM estimate).

18. Ford Police Interceptor Utility: 150 mph

Care to guess which is Ford's best-selling SUV in the United States? The direct successor of the Bronco II rolled out in 1990 for 1991 to much critical acclaim. Come 1993, it received the Special Service Vehicle package in 2WD or 4WD flavors. Fast forward to the present day, and the police-spec Ford Explorer tops 150 miles per hour with the 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 and all-wheel drive.

If this combo sounds familiar, that's because said engine is the very same 3.0-liter EcoBoost found in the Explorer ST. Good for 400 horsepower at 4,000 revolutions per minute and 415 pound-feet (563 Nm) at 3,000 revolutions per minute, this fellow is electronically limited to 150 mph.

Currently the best-selling police vehicle in the US, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility also comes with a 3.3-liter V6 of the naturally-aspirated variety. Law enforcement agencies are further offered the hybrid version of the 3.3er, which promises 24 miles per gallon (9.8 liters per 100 kilometers) on the combined test cycle. As for the non-hybrid 3.3 and the 3.0-liter EcoBoost, the Environmental Protection Agency says that both offer 19 mpg (12.4 l/100 km).

17. Ford Police Interceptor Sedan: 150 mph

Little did the sedan-loving public knew, but FoMoCo would phase out the Taurus in the United States in 2019 due to increasing demand for sport utilities and pickups. Although this nameplate still exists in the Middle East, bear in mind the Taurus in production today is nothing more than a China-sourced Mondeo with different badging.

Turning our attention back to the last generation of the Taurus for North America, the fastest configuration available for police work is rated at 150 miles per hour. Not bad at all for a front-biased sedan, especially one designed to pass a 75-mph rear-end crash. In the metric system, 75 miles per hour means just over 120 kilometers per hour.

Back in 2017, the Michigan State Police clocked 5.7 seconds to 60 miles per hour in the Police Interceptor Sedan with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and all-wheel drive. By comparison, the V8-powered competition from Chevrolet and Dodge recorded 6.11 and 6.05 seconds, respectively.

16. Chevrolet Impala Limited Police Vehicle: 150 mph

Ah, the Impala! Redesigned into a front-wheel-drive sedan for the eighth generation, the Impala can shoot to 150 miles per hour on a long enough stretch of road. The Michigan State Police reached said speed on a number of occasions, with test vehicles being powered by the LFX 3.6-liter V6.

Used by the ninth- and tenth-gen Impala between 2012 and 2020, this powerplant splits opinion. Some peeps believe that it's unreliable, but they're probably mistaking the LFX for the LLT on which it's based. Early fifth-gen Camaros with the LLT sixer are notorious for timing chain failures.

Officially dubbed Impala Limited Police Vehicle, the police-spec Impala could be had in 9C1 or 9C3 specifications. In other words, pursuit/patrol or undercover police specifications. Both came standard with 17-inch wheels and W-rated rubber boots, with the letter W standing for 168 miles per hour (270 kilometers per hour).

15. Dodge Charger Pursuit: 152 mph

2.65 gears may hurt the Charger Pursuit down low, but this choice pays dividends at higher speeds. Initially equipped with a five-speed auto from the DaimlerChrysler era, the Charger Pursuit switched to an eight-speed automatic for the 2021 model year. From the factory, 2021 and newer vehicles are electronically limited to 140 mph (225 kph).

Coming as standard with the 3.6-liter Pentastar, the pursuit-rated Charger will be dropped after 2023 because FCA US LLC is pivoting towards electrified muscle. What kind of electrified muscle? Previewed by the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept, the next-gen Charger will feature both electric and inline-six twin-turbo options.

The most powerful electric powertrain is estimated to pack anything between 850 ponies to well north of 1,000 horsepower. By comparison, the least powerful electric powertrain has been confirmed with 455 horsepower.

14. Volvo S70 T5: 153 mph

Joined by the 152-mph Volvo V70 T5 station wagon, the 153-mph Volvo S70 T5 sedan is a very different animal from the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor of that era. Gifted with a beefed-up chassis and larger brakes than the S70 T5 for civilians, the police specification was tested by the CHP between the late 1990s and the year 2000.

Sargeant Casey Cronin told the Los Angeles Times that “it runs strong, stops straight, and has excellent handling” in 1999, yet the California Highway Patrol eventually picked the good ol' Crown Victoria Police Interceptor over the lighter and faster Volvo in 2000. The reason behind this change of heart? Much to the disdain of the CHP, the Swedish manufacturer informed the California Highway Patrol that it would discontinue the S70 that same year.

Volvo tried to sweeten the deal with the V70 T5, but alas, Commissioner Dwight Helmick said that they're not in the market for a wagon. Volvo representative Richard Cook learned from the CHP that officers viewed the V70 T5 station wagon as a "soccer mom's car for hauling kids around." All told, the California Highway Patrol purchased 10 examples of the S70 T5 for testing purposes in 1999.

13. Saab 9-5: 155 mph

Aspen and Vail cops used a variety of Saab vehicles, including the 9-5, from the 1970s to the 2000s. Part of the reason the Saab 9-5 and its predecessors made sense in these parts of Colorado is the cold weather, which made rear-drive sedans (Crown Vic, anyone?) a very poor fit.

According to a local, “growing up in a town that had Saab police cars had its advantages. Such as their distinctive engine sound which could be heard from blocks away as they approached in the dark." The 2.3-liter turbo inline-four of the 9-3 is best described as a redesign of the Saab B engine, which – in turn – is based on the Triumph Slant-4.

What is most surprising about the Saab H engine is the cast-iron block. Considering that General Motors made the switch to aluminum for the LS line of V8s in the 1990s, the now-defunct Swedish automaker was well behind the curve. Even so, 155 miles per hour is nothing to scoff at.

12. Tesla Model S: 155 mph

The Gates Mills Police Department has been rocking a Model S dual-motor electric vehicle since 2019. Donated by a law enforcement support and Tesla enthusiast, the Model S in question has more than enough driving range for two consecutive patrol shifts in Gates Mills, a village with a total area of 9.10 square miles (23.57 square kilometers).

The gentleman who donated the car also paid for the graphics and charging station. Back in 2019, the Model S used to retail at $80,000 before options. At the moment of reporting, the oldest Tesla still in production carries a starting price of $74,090 in the United States of America.

Dual-motor AWD is standard. In this configuration, the Model S is EPA-rated 405 miles (652 kilometers) on a full charge. Going for the performance-oriented Plaid sees the EPA's driving range estimate drop to a respectable 396 miles (637 kilometers) due to the Plaid's tri-motor setup.

11. Cadillac XLR-V: 155 mph

Some claim the XLR is a Corvette in all but name and styling, but Cadillac's take on the 'Vette differs from the C5 in the suck-squeeze-bang-blow department as well. Rather than a naturally-aspirated small block, the XLR came with the Northstar double-overhead-camshaft V8 powerplant.

Pictured with Bloomfield Township Police Department graphics, the XLR-V uses the supercharged Northstar of the STS-V, which packs 443 horsepower and 414 pound-feet (561 Nm) of rear tire-shredding torque. By comparison, the naturally-aspirated Northstar of the XLR offers 320 horsepower.

Quite complicated for an American V8 from the 1990s, the Northstar is regarded as one of the most unreliable series-production engines out there. To make a long story short, the torque-to-yield head bolts would pull out of the aluminum block when the engine ran hot for too long of a time. Had it not been for those iffy bolts, the Cadillac-specific Northstar would have been far more reliable.

10. Chevrolet Caprice PPV: 156 mph

Production of the US-built Caprice concluded in 1996. From the fifth generation onward, production switched to the Holden subsidiary in Australia. The Caprice wouldn't return to the United States until 2011 on the Zeta platform, a vehicle architecture that also underpins the 2010 – 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, VF Commodore, and Chevrolet SS.

Chevrolet's final rear-biased police sedan, the Caprice PPV came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 rated at 301 horsepower. Leveling up to eight cylinders resulted in 355 horsepower, which may not sound like much compared to the LT small blocks in modern-day Chevrolet vehicles. On the other hand, the 6.0-liter V8 enables the Caprice PPV to reach 156 miles per hour (251 kilometers per hour) on full song.

The Michigan State Police further averaged 6.17 seconds to 60 miles per hour, 9.94 seconds to 80 miles per hour, and 14.69 seconds to 100 miles per hour back in 2014. By comparison, the 147-mph Caprice PPV with the standard 3.6-liter V6 averaged 7.84, 12.69, and 19.41 seconds.

9. Chevrolet Camaro B4C: 160 mph

Scheduled to be retired after a very short 2024 model year, the Camaro was once available with the B4C police package. Mechanically close to the Z28, the B4C achieved 160 miles per hour (257 kilometers per hour) during September 1999. The Michigan State Police published the 2000 patrol vehicle bulletin the following month, and not surprising in the least, the hideously underrated Camaro B4C proved faster than all other rivals tested that year.

Not all B4Cs are created equal, though. The MSP tested both the automatic and manual transmissions, with the six-speed manual coming in a close second with 159 miles per hour (256 kilometers per hour) to its name. The S70 T5 and V70 T5 secured third and fourth with top speeds of 153 and 152 miles per hour (246 and 245 kilometers per hour).

General Motors produced 42,098 units of the fourth-gen Camaro (a.k.a. Catfish) for the 2002 model year at Sainte-Therese Assembly in Quebec, with production coming to a screeching halt in August 2002. Of those, the B4C accounted for 708 units, split between 583 automatics and 125 manuals. Most of them were specified in Onyx Black, which used to carry regular production order code 41U.

8. Tesla Model 3 Performance: 162 mph

In April 2022, the Dallas County Commissioners Court in Texas approved the purchase of three Model 3 Performance sedans for pilot testing. What's more, Dallas County also placed orders for no fewer than 10 examples of the F-150 Lightning and 10 examples of the Mustang Mach-E.

The F-150 Lightning is limited to 110 miles per hour (177 kilometers per hour), and the Mustang Mach-E tops 124 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour). Given these numbers, neither is fast enough to crack into the top 20 list of fastest police cars in the US. The Model 3 Performance may not feature the Plaid's tri-motor powertrain, but its dual-motor setup is mighty impressive in every respect.

60 takes 3.1 seconds, and the D-segment electric sedan keeps gaining speed until the central display indicates 162 miles per hour (261 kilometers per hour). For reference, the BMW M3 is electronically limited from the factory to 155 miles per hour (250 kph). Opting for the M Driver's Package raises the limit to 180 miles per hour (290 kph).

7. Cadillac CTS-V: 163 mph

Yet another high-performance Caddy with Bloomfield Township Police Department graphics, the first-generation Cadillac CTS-V was instrumental for the crown jewel of General Motors. Once synonymous with land yachts, Cadillac rolled out the V series in 2003 with the 2004 model year CTS-V in order to compete with the likes of BMW M and the AMG division of Mercedes-Benz.

The CTS-V competes against the M5 and E 63. Replaced by the CT5-V Blackwing, the American alternative still features a pushrod V8 as opposed to the German competition's double-overhead-cam engines. Offered with either a Tremec-supplied manual tranny or a 10-speed automatic developed by Ford, the CT5-V Blackwing is rated at 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet (893 Nm).

With Cadillac aiming for a full-electric lineup by 2030, it's only a matter of time until the V series also goes completely electric. The marque's punchiest electric vehicle yet is the Escalade IQ, which is advertised with 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet (1,064 Nm) in the Velocity Max setting.

6. C5 Corvette: 175 mph

A major departure from the C4, the C5 served or continues to serve with a handful of police departments throughout the nation. The SLCPD, for example, obtained a 50th Anniversary Corvette with only 7,000 miles on the clock after the original owner was convicted of drug dealing.

Greenville Police added a 2003 model year Chevrolet Corvette Z06 to its fleet back in 2015, although the C5-generation Z06 isn't as fast as the standard Corvette. Rather than 175 miles per hour (282 kilometers per hour) for the LS1-engined Corvette, the LS6-engined Z06 will run out of puff at 171 miles per hour (275 kilometers per hour).

The C5 was GM's first series-production application of the LS small block, and the C5 was the last series-production vehicle to feature pop-up headlamps. Production ended in July 2004, six months after the mid-engined Lotus Esprit bowed out. Coincidentally, the C8 followed in the footsteps of the Esprit by adopting a mid-mounted V8 engine.

5. 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera: 177 mph

The Hoover Police Department in Alabama pulled over a silver-painted Porsche 911 Carrera back in October 2007 on Interstate 20 for a traffic violation. Police officers discovered 10 kilograms of cocaine in the Neunelfer. Two years later, after the case was adjudicated, the sports car entered service with the Hoover Police Department.

Watkins Auto Body of Birmingham and Stripe King of Fultondale prepped the vehicle for police work. The German coupe received a second makeover in 2022, consisting of a new wrap and powder-coated wheels, yet Hoover Police Department kept the H6 stock. Otherwise put, you're looking at a two-decade-old vehicle that can easily hit 177 miles per hour (285 kilometers per hour).

The biggest issue with the water-cooled Porsche 911 from the 996 generation isn't the design of the headlamps, but the intermediate shaft bearing. An upgrade kit may retail at less than a grand, but 9 to 12 hours of labor certainly add up.

4. SR II Dodge Viper: 180 mph

Seized from a driver doing 127 miles per hour (204 kilometers per hour) in a 35 zone, this 2000 model year Dodge Viper entered the Plainfield Police Department's fleet in 2007. According to Plainfield PD's Mario Marzetta, the Viper's driver fled and eluded the patrol officer.

Specified in black with a cognac leather interior, the Viper sports the American flag on the hood, communication equipment, and strobe lighting for good measure. Though it would make for a highly capable pursuit vehicle, this V10-powered monster is used for D.A.R.E. events.

Launched in 1991 and discontinued in 2017, the Viper has yet to receive a replacement in Dodge's lineup. The closest thing to a successor is the Challenger SRT Hellcat, which specializes in straight-line performance rather than handling. After all, the Hellcat-derived Challenger SRT Demon 170 is the quickest series-production muscle car in the quarter-mile (8.91 seconds at 151 mph or 243 kph).

3. C7 Corvette Z06: 196 mph

Revealed in 2014 for model year 2015, the C7-generation Corvette Z06 was one notch above the C6-generation Corvette ZR1. Similar to the ZR1, the Z06 brings together a small block and a thumpin' great supercharging system.

In the first year of production, it used to retail at $78,995 for the coupe and $83,995 for the convertible. Carbon Fiber Ground Effects added $2,995 to the tally, whereas the Z07 package was available for $7,995 regardless of trim level.

To our knowledge, there is at least one C7 Z06 modified for police duty out there. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Pensacola, Florida revealed their decked-out Corvette in June 2022, a 2016 model seized from a drug dealer. Instead of taxpayer dollars, the vehicle's makeover was funded by the Escambia County Sheriff Foundation.

2. Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat: Over 200 mph

Awarded to the Texas Department of Public Safety in 2022, this Challenger SRT Redeye wouldn't have morphed into a highway patrol car had the previous owner not engaged in street racing. Caught doing 160 miles per hour (257 kilometers per hour), the felon driver then proceeded to drive erratically in densely populated areas of Houston.

As fate would have it, the supercharged V8-engined brute ran out of gas near Interstate 10 and the West Sam Houston Parkway. The driver may have attempted to flee on foot, but DPS troopers eventually apprehended the guy. In addition to felony evading, he was arrested for unlawfully carrying a loaded handgun on the front passenger seat.

The Hellcat Redeye is thirsty as is, but this particular example of the breed is thirstier still due to a series of go-faster mods. Upgraded to 1,080 horsepower, this no-nonsense muscle car definitely exceeds 200 miles per hour (322 kilometers per hour) if you give it the beans. The standard Hellcat Redeye is officially rated at 203 mph (326 kph).

1. C6 Corvette Z06: Over 200 mph

At press time, the fastest production 'Vette of all time is the 215-mph C7 ZR1. The New Braunfels Police Department confiscated a C6-generation Z06 during a 2011 meth raid, a 1,005-horsepower land missile that would put up a great fight against the aforementioned Redeye and the one-year-only C7 ZR1.

It's easy to picture the NBPD Corvette being that little bit faster than the Challenger, though. Not only does it weigh considerably less, but the Corvette slices through the air more cleanly than the Challenger as well.

Awarded to the New Braunfels Police Department in 2013, the "Coptimus Prime" C6 Z06 was modified for police duty with seized funds instead of taxpayer dollars. Similar to the D.A.R.E. Viper from earlier, this Corvette from the Lone Star State earns its keep as a community outreach tool.

December 2023 UPDATE

The Panama City Beach Police Department has recently added a C8 to their fleet, namely a non-Z51 specification of the Stingray. This version hits 194 miles per hour (312 kilometers per hour), whereas the Stingray Z51 tops 184 mph (296 kph) due to increased downforce and a shorter final drive. The car was seized in April 2023 from 25-year-old Alexander Casey, who was charged with possessing firearms and transporting illegal narcotics. Worse still, he was also charged with fleeing and eluding.