Chevrolet Announces 2021 Tahoe Police Pursuit and Special Service Vehicles
Bad Guys beware: Chevrolet has announced all-new Police Pursuit and Special Service Vehicle versions of the Tahoe, to debut late this year. The next-generation Tahoe is available in two law enforcement packages: the Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle is designed for high speeds and dynamic capability, whilet he Special Service Vehicle is more focused on off-road and towing needs where high-speed operations are not required.
Both the PPV and SSV models are powered by the Tahoe’s 5.3L V-8 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. To meet the most demanding needs of law enforcement, the PPV engine borrows high-performance rocker covers from the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 LT4 engine to improve crankcase ventilation, Engine oil and transmission fluid are cooled by dedicated, heavy-duty cooling systems specific for law enforcement applications. To handle the dynamic load of police pursuits, Chevrolet worked with Bridgestone to develop a pursuit-rated all-season tire. The Firestone Firehawk Pursuit tires, mounted to 20-inch steel wheels, were tested by Chevrolet at multiple race tracks and play a large role in the PPV’s improved stopping distance, which has been reduced by 11 feet from 62 to 0 mph on dry surfaces compared to the 2020 model. Additional performance enhancements of the PPV include: Specific suspension tuning, lower rode height, heavy-duty braking with large front Brembo six-piston aluminum monoblock calipers on 16-inch rotors, and a speedometer certified at 140 mph.
Tahoe’s police vehicle electrical architecture has been greatly improved to reduce time and complexity of upfitting. A new standard blunt-cut wire harness has 31 wire circuits to the cockpit, 56 wire circuits to the cargo area and 25 shared circuits to connect aftermarket equipment without removing major panels or components. The electrical system is powered by an upgraded dual battery system with emergency equipment isolation. A new high-output alternator is 47 percent more powerful than the 2020 model to support the continuous running of electrical equipment.To avoid excessive engine idling, a 760-amp auxiliary battery will allow video systems, department radios, mobile data terminals, emergency lighting and more to operate without running the engine.