Ford F-150 is the world’s fastest Pursuit ute

THEM Duke Boys won’t know what hit 'em, thanks to a new police vehicle released by Ford, that’s based on the latest incarnation of its iconic F-150 truck.

Built for the good ol’ US of A (where else?), the 2018 Ford F-150 Police Responder is the first “pursuit-rated” pick-up truck the Blue Oval has ever produced.

The highway cop car will be capable of 160km/h, and its pursuit rating means the F-150 is quick enough for chasing down felons, and able to endure extended high-speed driving without risking overheating, reduced braking performance, or other mechanical issues.

Under the bonnet is a 3.5-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, making 280kW and 635Nm, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with part-time four-wheel-drive system and a low-range transfer case.

2018 Ford Ranger Raptor spied in the wild

The Police Responder isn’t limited to sealed highways though, with off-road suspension and underbody skid plates enabling it to stay pinned on the perp’s tail even when the bitumen turns to dirt.

“Ford’s 2018 F-150 Police Responder is the perfect all-terrain law enforcement vehicle,” said Ford’s police brand marketing manager Stephen Tyler.

“Aside from its industry-first on-road pursuit capability, this purpose-built pickup can comfortably seat five, while providing capability in off-road patrol situations for officers in rural environments patrolled by sheriff’s departments, border patrol operations and the Department of Natural Resources.”

Along with all the police trimmings, the F-150 pursuit vehicle still has an impressive 3175kg payload and towing capacity. This is the biggest of any pursuit-rated police vehicle in the US, of course.

Needless to say, if this comes up in your rear-vision mirror with the lights on, it’s advised to pull over quick-smart.

9