By 2012 it’s likely American cops could be patrolling the streets in a real life version of David Hassellhoff’s crushingly 80’s Night Rider car, KITT, minus the pretentious attitude and quip comments. 

It’s called the E-7. Designed by Carbon Motors with over 100 features specifically requested by over 1,800 law enforcement officials from all 50 states it's primed to be the first ever purpose-built cop car to effectively expose Ford’s Crown Victoria Police Interceptors as little more than full size family cars retrofitted for police use. 

Powered by a 300 bhp 3.0-liter Forced induction diesel, the E-7 has a top speed of 155 mph, polishes off a 6.5 second 0-60 time and turns the quarter mile in 14.5 seconds at 98 mph all while getting a combined city/highway fuel economy of 28-30 mpg. 

With the introduction of their next generation cop mobile, Carbon plans to reduce the estimated 1.5 billion gallons of fuel consumed by our nation’s law enforcement and the 14 million tons of C02 it produces each year by up to 40%. 

The list of crime fighting goodies crammed into the E-7 includes but is not limited to the following:

-Cockpit with fully integrated factory fitted law enforcement equipment
-Radiation, chemical and biological weapon sensors
-NIJ Level III-A (or better) ballistic protection (front doors and dash panel)
-Video and audio surveillance of rear passenger compartment 
-360 exterior surveillance capability 
-Night Vision compliant interior illumination 
-LoJack (stolen car tacking device)
-Automatic license plate recognition system
-75mph rear impact crash capability 
-Integrated emergency lights, spotlights, take down lights, and directional stick
-Built-in LED emergency lighting
-Lap top/printer
-Integrated forward looking infrared system (FLIR) 
-Integrated push bumpers and pit capability 
-Driver specific intelligent key
-Optimized approach/departure angles and ground clearance

Impressive, but with the economy being somewhat less than stellar could our country's law enforcement really afford to purchase a car with this list of options by the droves? 

Carbon reports that over 1,000 law enforcement agencies are lining up to purchase the E-7 and “want the car yesterday.” The company has not released an exact price tag but says it will cost “close to what cities currently pay” for police cars. 

For the full story and all the juicy details visit www.carbonmotors.com. Also check out “Carbon E-7 showcased at San Diego Police Convention” in New Videos here at MotorSpaceNW. 

Or if you’d like a ride, wait till sometime after 2012 and commit a crime; it might be the E-7 that chases your crazy ass down and carts you away.

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