The Mopar Cop Car Is Back!Michael Simari - Car and DriverDodge Law recently showed off a prototype version of its Charger Police Pursuit Vehicle.The cop car will come with standard all-wheel drive and turbo six-cylinder power; no details on the latter yet.Sorry, Jake Blues, no cigarette lighter yet.When the seventh-generation Dodge Charger finally reached the end of its production run, it turned in its badge and gun, and retired on pension. No more patrolling those mean streets, just loafing around the garage like every day was a Sunday. But then the call came in from the chief. Officer Charger, we need you back. Cue montage of hauling the dress blues out of the back of the closet.The Mopar cop car is back. Well, nearly. Coming to a motor pool near you by 2027, probably. However, Dodge Law has just released a prototype of its 2027 Charger PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle) and recently showed it off to law-enforcement fleet professionals in Daytona.Powered by a Hurricane turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and equipped with standard all-wheel drive, the Charger PPV marks the return of a breed that's nearly gone extinct. When Ford discontinued the Taurus, most police forces were all too happy to move over to the Explorer as a pursuit vehicle, for the same reason crossovers are popular with the civilian population: you can fit more stuff in them.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs a result, seeing the profile of a black Ford Explorer up ahead now reflexively provokes a quick glance at the speedometer, just to make sure you're on the safe side of the limit. The old Charger used to prod the same response. Now, Dodge's newest entry into the Charger fleet might do the same.Despite what our 10-year-old selves believed, thanks to the scriptwriting team behind The Blues Brothers, police cars aren't magical bridge-jumping machines. Modern ones don't even have a cigarette lighter for Jake to complain about. Instead, these are hard-working machines that have to carry communication equipment, first-aid supplies, and all manner of other gear.The Charger PPV's hatchback layout makes it a lot more flexible than, say, an old Ford Crown Vic. The standard all-wheel drive will be handy in climates where patrols have to go out in all weathers, and while the rookies might wish for a V-8 under the hood, the fleet manager checklist will probably require something that runs on regular octane fuel and not too much of it. Perhaps don't expect the high-output version of the Hurricane inline-six to show up in cop form.Beyond the spec sheet, the Charger PPV will have to jump through all sorts of other enforcement requirement hoops, from racking for equipment to ergonomics. As an example of the latter, cop cars generally have very little lateral bolstering in the seats, to better accommodate passengers wearing utility belts.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen it arrives, the Charger PPV will be the only police-specification sedan on offer, but it won't be without competition. Just as the car has to contend with in the civilian segment, it'll be up against a rising tide of crossovers.Fleet managers are largely no-nonsense types, with a keen eye for the balance on a budget. But still, when the Dodge rep shows up and points out that this particular choice comes with a cop motor and cop shocks? It might be hard to resist the return of the Mopar patrol car.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029