AUBURN HILLS, MI — Dodge announced on March 24 that it is entering the police car market this fall with the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle, offering law enforcement agencies a four-door sedan with the power, handling and functionality they require to patrol the streets. The 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle will join the previously announced Dodge Magnum police vehicle to round out Dodge's growing fleet of vehicles for law enforcement agencies. The Charger police vehicle will be available with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine that produces 340 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 390 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. The V-8 HEMI engine features Chrysler Group's Multi-displacement System (MDS), which seamlessly alternates between high fuel economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is required. Fuel efficiency improves by up to 20 percent with MDS, but not at the expense of performance. Dodge Charger police vehicles equipped with HEMI engines will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds. The 2006 Dodge Charger police car also will be available with a 3.5L High Output V-6 engine that provides 250 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 250 lb.-ft. of torque at 3800 rpm. A fully electronic five-speed automatic transmission with an Electronically Modulated Converter Clutch (EMCC) offers improved shift feel to match a variety of driving styles, situations and road conditions. This transmission is standard on all Dodge Charger police cars. Heavy-duty brakes and linings, also standard on Charger police vehicles, provide secure and stable deceleration and braking capability. In addition, Dodge Charger police vehicles will include an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Emergency Brake Assist, All-speed Traction Control and four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). Combined, these features will provide balance and control for officers in a variety of surface and weather conditions. Both passive and active safety features also are incorporated in the new Dodge Charger police vehicles. These include: advanced multistage driver and front passenger air bags, a front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) for controlled airbag deployment, constant force seat belt retractors, pretensioners, an energy-absorbing steering column, optional side-curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system to alert officers of low tire pressure.

Standard features on the Charger police vehicle will include:

• 100-amp battery power feed in trunk
  

• 160-amp high-output alternator
  

• 160-mph calibrated speedometer
  

• 800CCA heavy-duty battery
  

• Cloth front bucket seats with manual lumbar and rear fixed bench seat
  

• Column shifter
  

• Easy path wiring grommet between underhood and passenger compartment
  

• Emergency rear-door-lock override
  

• External oil coolers
  

• Four-wheel independent performance suspension
  

• Heavy-duty brakes and linings
  

• Integrated engine hour meter
  

• P225/60R 18 V-rated all-season performance tires and 18-inch steel wheels
  

• Performance-tuned steering
  

• Police equipment interface module
  

• Police equipment mounting bracket
  

• Rear door locks and rear window switches inoperable from the rear seats
  

• Severe-duty cooling system
  

• Software-controlled alternating head- and tail lamps
  

• Special electrical wiring for police market applications
  

• Speed control
  

• Stealth mode switch for interior lighting

  Production for the 2006 Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum police vehicles will begin in the fall of 2005 at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario in Canada alongside the 2006 Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. The 2006 Dodge police vehicles will be available to county, city, and state police departments in the fourth quarter of 2005, with pricing announced at that time.