FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. - No one wants to find themselves locked in the back of one, but there is something about the squad cars driven by the Minnesota State Patrol that draws people's attention.
That is especially true up at Heritage Square on the Minnesota State fairgrounds, where the patrol has it's brand new Taurus cruisers on display.
For decades troopers have spent their days behind the wheel of the Ford Crown Victoria, a classic 4-door sedan driven by state troopers, police officers and sheriff's deputies across the United States. Troopers and their bosses love them, because they are heavy, sturdy, and in the words of at least one mechanic, "bullet-proof."
Ford's latest police offering is based on the new Taurus chassis. It is powered by a 3.5 liter engine that produces 290 horsepower, has a six-speed automatic transmission, heavy duty anti-lock brakes, and offers flex-fuel convenience.
The patrol says it is capable of more than 130 miles per hour. Base price on the new squads is just over $24,000, but with add-ons each new patrol car will cost Minnesota taxpayers $60,860.
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