Mysterious Car

Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol VehicleAn all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. It's a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a host of specialized equipment and features.

Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle - Front Angle, 2011, 800x600, 1 of 33

Chevrolet made the announcement at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado. The Chevrolet Caprice PPV will be available for ordering next year and will hit the streets in early 2011.

"The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement," said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. "We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas."
Vice President, Global Chevrolet Brand Brent Dewar added, "Along with Impala and Tahoe, the Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle gives agencies a greater range of choices for police and special service vehicles that are all available from Chevrolet."
Unlike other police cars on the market, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV is not based on existing "civilian" passenger-car model sold in North America. It has been developed in key areas specifically for police duty, containing modern equipment and features:

Powerful 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year
Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety
Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment
Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference
Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology
Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt

Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle - Front Angle, 2011, 800x600, 5 of 33

The front seats are sculpted to "pocket" the equipment belt, which greatly increases the comfort for a great range of police officer sizes. The foam density of the seatback and cushion insert surfaces are designed to conform to the shape of an equipment belt's various items, too, allowing the officer's back to rest properly on the seatback surface.
"The Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle's seats represent a revolution in comfort and utility for officers who spend long hours in their car," said Bob Demick, lead seat design manager. "The shape also enhances entry and egress, making it easier for officers to exit the vehicle quickly. The seatback bolsters, for example, have been purposefully contoured to help pocket the equipment on the belt, which includes the gun, Taser and handcuffs, which rest comfortably in the sculpted lower bolsters. That also increases the longevity of the trim cover surface."
Along with comfort, the materials used in the seats were also carefully selected. High-wear materials were chosen to stand up to long hours of everyday use, while breathability, long-term durability and ease of cleaning were also important criteria.
Engineers worked on several iterations of the seat, testing a couple of versions in the field to get real-world feedback from police officers, who used prototype seats in their cruisers for a month. Their input helped determine the final design.
Class-leading space
The Chevrolet Caprice PPV is based on GM's global rear-drive family of vehicles that also underpins the Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture - 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) - along with a four-wheel independent suspension that delivers responsive high-performance driving characteristics that are crucial in some police scenarios.
Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle's long wheelbase also contributes to exceptional spaciousness. Compared to the primary competition, its advantages include:

A larger interior volume - 112 cubic feet / 3,172 liters - than the Ford Crown Victoria, including nearly 4 inches (101 mm) more rear legroom
The barrier between the front seat and rear seat is positioned farther rearward, allowing for full front-seat travel and greater recline for officer comfort
At 18 cubic feet (535 liters) free space (beyond battery located in trunk), the Caprice's trunk volume is large enough to accommodate a full-size spare tire under a flat load surface in the trunk storage area. The Chevrolet Caprice's 6.0-liter V-8 is rated at an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) with an estimated 384 lb-ft of torque. It is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission that is performance-calibrated for police duty. Additional, police car-specific powertrain and vehicle system features include:

High-output alternator

Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers

Standard 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps

Large, four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads

Heavy-duty suspension components

Police-calibrated stability control system

Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature. A host of complementary features are also offered, including special equipment packages such as spotlights; lockouts for the power windows and locks; and an "undercover" street-appearance package (9C3).
To enable more room for interior equipment, the standard radio can be relocated to the trunk, allowing for an in-dash, touch-screen computer to be used.

Source : Netcarshow.com

Americans who have heard of it refer to it as a mini-Murano, the Japanese market knows it as a Dualis, and Stephane Schwarz, the design director at Nissan Design Europe thinks of it as an "Urban Nomad", a nickname borne out by the Nissan UK website which refers to it as "urbanproof". Whatever the descriptor, though, "it" is the 2007 Nissan Qashqai, the Japanese carmaker's chief assault weapon against the similarly sized Volkswagen CrossGolf.

Designed in London, built in Sunderland, and named for a nomadic people from southwestern Iran, the Nissan Qashqai, which is offered in European, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets, is perfect example of a compact crossover car. It has the soul of a coupe and the flexibility of a hatchback.

The Nissan Qashqai is featured with a choice of four engines, two gasoline (petrol) and two diesel. The 1.5-litre diesel engine provides 106 horsepower and 240Nm of torque while the 2.0-litre puts out 150 hp and 320Nm of torque. The petrol engines offer 115 horsepower and 160Nm of torque in a 1.6-litre model, or 140hp and 200Nm in the 2.0-litre version. In addition there is an array of gearbox options, including five-speed and six-speed manual, six-speed automatic and CVT. Both the diesel and petrol versions of the 2-litre engine are available with Nissan's all-wheel drive system. Don't let the 4x4 option fool you, however. Despite the fact that the Nissan Qashqai is taller and has more clearance than a true hatchback, the all-wheel drive option is there for additional road safety - this car is meant for street use.

As well as being taller than the average hatchback, the Nissan Qashqai is also about 100mm longer (though it is still roughly 150 mm shorter than most SUV's), and a bit wider, with a wheelbase of 2630mm, and a 1780mm width. These slightly larger dimensions are enhanced by the sporty feel of the interior, which has a raised main console and instrument panels that are deeply recessed.

At the Qashqai's launch event in Paris last September, Nissan's president and CEO Carlos Ghosn said "European customers want it all: dynamic design, driving performance and attractive premium interior." With expected sales of 100,000 Qashqai's in the model's first year, it is clear that Nissan wants the Qashqai to be a cash cow.

There is no information on whether the Nissan Qashqai will ever be offered in the United States.