The New Hot Ford Police Car Isn't a Car

They weren't the only police cars in America, but for a long time, Ford's long-lived Crown Victoria Police Interceptors were the favorite of many departments. Its roomy interior, predictable handling, big trunk, and old-school body-on-frame ruggedness made it the preferred ride not just for the police officers who drove them but for the departmental mechanics who took care of them.

Heads up, scofflaws: In more and more places in the U.S., this grill is becoming the on-road face of law enforcement. Photo credit: Ford Motor Co.

But Ford stopped building the Crown Vic a couple of years ago, and since then, there has been plenty of competition to fill the gap. General Motors' ,Chrysler and even Toyota have all made some gains in this long-closed market. More and more, however, the vehicle that replaces those old Crown Vics isn't a car: It's the official version of Ford's popular Explorer, which is rapidly becoming a police favorite.

In this video, Fool contributor John Rosevear looks at the key contenders in this small but high-profile market and why this version of the Explorer -- properly called the "Ford Police Interceptor Utility" -- is becoming a favorite of more folks in blue.

Commercial and government fleet sales, which include police cars, are a big part of Ford's business. Lately, those businesses have been thriving, and that has boosted Ford's profits. But in order for Ford's stock to really soar, a few more critical things need to fall into place. In The Motley Fool's special free report entitled, "5 Secrets to Ford's Future" we outline the key factors every Ford investor needs to watch. Just click here now for your free report.

The article The New Hot Ford Police Car Isn't a Car originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor John Rosevear owns shares of Ford and General Motors. You can connect with him on Twitter at @jrosevear. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. It recommends and owns shares of Ford. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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