Just about every single person with access to the internet has seen a Dodge Charger police car either ram, spin-out, or otherwise chase down baddies trying to escape the long arm of the law. The Dodge Charger Pursuit took the already stout Charger platform and, as the Blues Brothers might say, added a cop motor, cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks, the whole bit.For the entire modern Charger era, starting in 2006, Dodge built a Charger Pursuit for police agencies. Using either the venerable 3.6-liter V6 or the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, it served until the seventh-generation Charger ended production in 2023. Now that Dodge finally has the four-door Charger Sixpack in production, will police get something new to upgrade their old Charger fleet? 'Actively Talking' With Law Enforcement DodgeThat's the question CarBuzz asked Dodge CEO Matt McAlear at the first-drive event for the new Charger R/T. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a full-on confirmation for a next-gen Pursuit car, but McAlear did say the company was "actively talking" with several prominent law enforcement agencies regarding a new model. He stopped short of announcing a full reveal, saying nothing was official yet. But it is something Dodge is looking into, and it sounds like things might be pretty far along in the process.A new Charger certainly wouldn't be a bad platform for a next-gen Pursuit vehicle. The old Charger was rather cramped inside despite it sharing a platform with the beefy Chrysler 300 full-size sedan. The new one is larger overall, but interior space grows by a significant margin. Dodge says there's 127% more cargo space in the new Charger, and there's more shoulder room as well as headroom. DodgeIt has power, too. The old Chargers with the Hemi V8 developed 375 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, whereas the Charger R/T makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of twist. The new Chargers are also all-wheel drive, something that could make them more useful in areas that see snow... or in case the epic car chase veers into someone's cornfield. SUVs Rule The Police Station FordOnce upon a time, big sedans were police vehicles of choice, but as automakers stepped away from such designs, SUVs slowly filled the void. Ford even canned sales of its Explorer Hybrid to the general public so police agencies could have a more fuel-efficient patrol vehicle.Dodge plays that game too with the Durango Pursuit, though it doesn't have a hybrid powertrain. Police can have a 3.6-liter V6 or the Hemi V8, and if they need an even bigger vehicle, Stellantis North America dishes up a Jeep Grand Wagoneer "Command Operations Vehicle" using the 420-hp Hurricane I6 engine. Bigger still is the 2026 Ram 1500 Special Service Vehicle, also packing the Hurricane engine.But there's still a wide preference for cars in law enforcement. When Ford retired the Crown Victoria, some agencies kept them on active duty for years afterward because the Charger was just too cramped inside. For chasing down speeders, some agencies have purchased new Mustang GTs despite Ford not offering a special police package. Clearly, there's a desire for police cars over SUVs, and gutsy cars at that. Not If, But When Christopher Smith / CarBuzz / ValnetAdd it all up – Dodge's long history with Charger police vehicles, Stellantis already offering other Pursuit vehicles, and the new Charger's numerous advantages over the old one – and it really becomes a no-brainer. Though McAlear didn't confirm anything, this really seems like a case of when they will arrive, not it. With the four-door R/T now in production, perhaps an official word will come later this year.
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