LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- NORTH, a strategic business unit of Build-To-Order, Inc. (BTO), today unveiled its design concept and performance specifications for an all-new purpose-built patrol vehicle in support of Homeland Security that dramatically improves on the modified retail passenger sedans currently used by law-enforcement agencies.
NORTH's police cruiser will withstand the heavy-duty and often extreme service typical of law enforcement usage while also exceeding the stringent vehicle crash requirements desired by police agencies. Simultaneously, the cruiser's performance, fuel economy, and long-term vehicle durability will be markedly improved while taxpayer dollars are saved and the needs and expectations of law-enforcement agencies are met.
Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/bto/
Long Beach, California, Deputy Chief of Police Timothy J. Jackman acknowledged that in a post-9-11 environment, "The opportunity for law enforcement agencies and officials to have direct input into the design of an all-new patrol vehicle specifically developed for our needs is not only intriguing but sorely needed."
John E. Alley of the San Diego Police Department added, "As a law-enforcement fleet administrator, I welcome the rare opportunity to be a part of this grassroots effort to directly input into the design of an all-new police vehicle. Being a part of the input to the vehicle specifications is the wave of the future and shows the commitment of NORTH to its potential customers."
NORTH's cruiser will give the nation's law-enforcement agencies the same level of vehicle specialization long found in our nation's various fire, medical, military, and postal operations.
BTO President and CEO and former Ford Motor Company executive William Santana Li declared, "The time has come for our nation to take a closer look at how taxpayer dollars are being spent on law enforcement vehicles. These mission-critical vehicles are utilized to patrol our communities, protect our families, and secure our homeland.
"Without question, it is time that our women and men in law enforcement are equipped with world-class vehicles built for their specific requirements and NORTH has every intention to continue to work very closely with federal, state, and local authorities as well as the financial community to make these vehicles a reality," Li continued.
NORTH's business model and technical architecture can provide the nation with a viable long-term and cost-effective answer to the many questions currently surrounding the suitability of existing law-enforcement vehicle fleets. A new cruiser for the nation's enforcement agencies that demonstrates profitable production at niche volumes, build-to-order customization, and direct-to-end-consumer distribution will no doubt meet a need that has gone unmet for many years.
"It is also a fact that the majority of law enforcement patrol vehicles today are manufactured outside of the United States. We intend to build these vehicles right here, in California, where we can create new American manufacturing jobs and have a positive impact on the State's economy," said Li.
Safety
The new cruiser will be powered by the proven technology of a clean diesel engine and fueling system which will significantly reduce the possibility of a catastrophe in a high-impact crash. A mid-section bulkhead has been incorporated in the cruiser's architecture between the b-pillars to significantly improve occupant rollover protection as well as the vehicle's side-impact crash characteristics while keeping the rear passenger compartment self-contained and separate from the front.
Performance
0-60 mph acceleration is approximately 7 seconds which is a significant improvement over the 9 second interval experienced today. Ride and handling characteristics as well as braking performance will also be consistent with law enforcement requirements.
In addition, the cruiser includes a functional and ergonomically purpose-built interior cockpit with fully-integrated controls and a seating configuration with an emphasis on officer comfort during long-term usage as well as considerations for those law-enforcement officers carrying substantial on-body equipment.
Cost
The cruiser is designed to reduce overall taxpayer expenditures by being a high-mileage workhorse -- which will reduce the number of new vehicles required to be purchased annually -- and by significantly improving fuel economy by over 100% to greater than 30 miles per gallon.
Lastly, by delivering a fully-configured and "to-order" equipped vehicle direct from the factory, the inefficient process of having agencies outfit their respective fleets will be eliminated while providing an economy-of-scale opportunity for component procurement, which will further reduce overall costs and improve quality of installation.
Preliminary Specifications (1)
Engine Dual Turbo Six-Cylinder Clean Diesel
Transmission Six-Speed Automatic
Horsepower 250 -- 300 bhp
Torque 400 -- 450 ft-lbs
Platform All-New Modular Stainless Steel Lower-Volume
Capable Platform
Driveline Rear-Wheel-Drive
0-60 mph 7.0 -- 7.5 seconds
Fuel Economy greater than 30 mpg
(1) NORTH reserves the right to alter specifications due to business or technical improvements at any time.
Law-enforcement agencies seeking to become involved in the cruiser's design process or agencies interested in finding out more about the pre-production order process can direct inquiries to northcustomer@btogroup.com
About NORTH
NORTH is a separate and distinct strategic business unit of BTO focused on police, security, and military patrol vehicles that support Homeland Security. NORTH, along with its strategic partners, will design, develop, manufacture, distribute, and service an all-new purpose-built law enforcement patrol vehicle for police usage. NORTH is an incremental and complementary initiative that further fortifies the overall BTO vision and plans.
About Build-To-Order Incorporated (BTO)
Build-To-Order Incorporated (BTO) is a new California car company focused on lower-volume profitability, build-to-order products, and direct distribution. BTO is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and can be reached at www.btogroup.com. AK Steel (NYSE:AKS) and Deloitte & Touche are strategic partners and financial investors in BTO.
More information on Homeland Security issues, including news releases, events and experts available for comment, can be found on the Homeland Security Newsline at www.primezone.com/hs
