https://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/2019MYPoliceVehicleEvaluationTestBook_639203_7.pdfso this is the Michigan State Police 2019 testing of vehicles available for sale to police and law enforcement agencies around the country.
i used to depend on these tests to show just how good the current D3 (of which the SHO/MKS/Explorer/Flex are derived) platform is when it comes to performance. Ford has pretty much dominated these tests historically with their Interceptor sedans and utility (Explorer) vehicles. Beating out the current FCA models (Charger Pursuit and Durango pursuit utility vehicles) - basis for the civilian higher performance Charger/Chrysler 300 cars and the more powerful Durango SRT model, which shares its basic underpinnings with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and older Mercedes ML suv; and GM higher performance Tahoes and older Chevy PPV sedan which was similar to the Chevy SS.
Even though Ford's D3 platform was FWD based, it still beat out the RWD platforms from FCA (Dodge) and GM the vast majority of the time.
This year (considered 2019 model year for testing purposes) Ford supplied their new Explorer Interceptor Utility vehicles for testing, built on their new global platform that's supposedly the basis for many of Ford's new and upcoming vehicles. the new platform is said to support RWD, AWD, and even FWD (i think) drivetrains and will be the basis for the new Explorer ST and high performance Lincoln Aviator variants. Perhaps even the return of the Taurus and MKS/Conti successors would be built on this platform. theres even rumors the next version of the Mustang will utilize this platform.
Well going off the results, its seems that Ford put in the necessary groundwork and engineering for a truly excellent platform that performed quite well; the best the Michigan State police has ever tested! the Interceptor SUV even beat out the Charger Pursuit sedans both in handling (road course) and acceleration.
So its fair to say i'm really excited. think i'll wait another 2 years and then will probably replace my MKS with one of these new Ford platform mates!
click the link to check out the results and data. there was a performance F150 that was also tested.
one thing that really stood out for me, besides Ford dominating, wass that the GM Tahoes suffered from overheated transmissions during multiple testing sessions; enough for MSP to mention it in their report.