The dramatically redesigned 2007 Chevrolet Police Tahoe delivers more power, enhanced ride and handling qualities, and more safety features than its 2006 counterpart. It also delivers a great deal of utility, cargo room, visibility and go-anywhere capability. But those attributes are only part of the 2007 Police Tahoe story. What distinguishes this vehicle is the fact that it is the first SUV designed from its inception as a law enforcement vehicle. That designation delivers a great many benefits to law enforcement agencies.
“Like the 1999 Chevrolet Impala Police vehicle – the first car in automotive history to be designed from its inception as a law enforcement vehicle – the 2007 Police Tahoe includes a number of law enforcement-specific enhancements. These enhancements were achieved during the design phase, with the result being that the Police Tahoe is available to law enforcement agencies with a number of features that set it apart from retail Tahoes,†said Bruce Wiley, GM manager of law enforcement and specialty vehicles.
Short wheelbase and police Tahoe production began at Arlington Assembly on December 1, 2005. SWB Yukon production began in early 2006, with Janesville Assembly coming on line as well. Long wheelbase versions began at Janesville and Silao Assembly in March.
Compared to its retail counterpart, Police Tahoe is lower to the ground for improved handling, especially at high speeds. The front and rear suspensions feature stiffer springs and shocks and there’s also a stiffer jounce bumper that is more ideally suited for police loads.
Police Tahoe also features a fully integrated electrical system for 2007, making it easier for upfitters to install such police-specific equipment as light bars and police radios.
“When we say that we design our police vehicles with the needs of law enforcement agencies in mind, we mean it. For example, Tahoe’s electrical system is designed the same as the Impala, and both vehicles now function and upfit the same and can share some wiring harnesses. The result is easier upfits and lower costs to law enforcement agencies,†Wiley added.
Enhanced powerplant
Police Tahoe’s standard Vortec 5.3L V-8 engine receives a number of enhancements for 2007. It delivers more power – 320 horsepower (238 kW)* and 340 lb.-ft. of torque (470 Nm)*. That’s 25 more horsepower and an additional 10 lb.-ft. of torque than the 2006 version of this engine. The Vortec 5.3L represents the newest chapter in GM’s small-block’s 50-year history and features Active Fuel Management technology, resulting in improved fuel economy. When combined with other vehicle-wide features, including improved aerodynamics, the small-block V-8 helps give the Tahoe the segment’s best fuel economy. Preliminary testing with 5.3L-equipped models shows unadjusted combined fuel economy ratings of 20.5 mpg on 2WD models.
The 5.3L Vortec can operate on fuel that contains up to 85 percent ethanol. E85 reduces reliance on fossil fuels and it’s a clean, renewable resource that benefits farmers, because it’s derived from corn.
The 5.3L V-8 is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.
Built for speed
Because of the high speeds typically encountered by law enforcement vehicles, Police Tahoe gets H-rated, P265/60R17 blackwall Goodyear RSA steel belt radial tires (compared to S-rated on production models). These are mounted on 17-inch steel wheels. Police Tahoe also receives heavy duty cooling – thanks to a higher capacity radiator and engine oil cooler –and heavy duty brakes with ABS, providing added safety for braking under specific conditions. For an additional level of safety, security and peace of mind, all 2007 Police Tahoe models feature a tire pressure monitor, alerting the driver if any of the tires begins to lose air pressure. A tire pressure monitor is also included in the spare tire and must be activated prior to being placed on the vehicle.
For underbody protection, Police Tahoe features a Skid Plate Package that includes a front underbody shield that starts behind the front bumper and runs to the first cross-member. The Skid Plate Package protects such vital vehicle components as the oil pan and other key drivetrain components.
A 26-gallon fuel tank, 160-amp alternator, a heavy duty 730 CCA battery with run-down protection and extended-life spark plugs are standard on Police Tahoe. Dual 730 CCA batteries are also available.
Superior ride and handling
The 2007 Police Tahoe is built on GM’s new full-size SUV platform, which incorporates features such as a new, fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and an all-new, premium interior system that bolster the vehicle’s comfort, quality and capability. Wider front and rear tracks enhance handling and lower the center of gravity for a more confident road feel.
Tahoe’s engineers paid extensive attention to detail to ensure a quiet driving experience. It starts with a new, stiffer frame, which reduces vibrations transmitted to the passenger cabin. The strength and accuracy of the fully boxed frame also enable more precise mounting and tuning of chassis and suspension components, which also help reduce vibration.
Enhanced safety and security
The ’07 Chevy Tahoe is designed to be among the industry’s safest and most secure vehicles, with a 360-degree perimeter safety system of occupant protection and crash avoidance technologies. New features include a standard dual-stage driver and front passenger frontal air bags; optional roof-mounted head curtain side air bags with rollover protection for all seating rows; and front-seat safety belt pretensioners that are linked to the vehicle’s sensing system to provide segment-exclusive deployment in rear-end crashes.
Crash avoidance is bolstered through enhanced design and driver control dynamics, such as wider front and rear tracks, as well as more responsive suspensions – including a new coil-over-shock front suspension design and new rack-and-pinion steering. The vehicles are built on a stronger and stiffer, fully boxed frame that contributes to enhanced crash energy management. The front frame section has been designed to optimize crush progression, resulting in improved energy absorption efficiency.
Enhanced utility
“Since September 11, 2001, the operating methodologies of police and fire municipalities have changed. They are looking at new and innovative ways to utilize police and emergency response vehicles, to carry more equipment, expand communication capability and address issues created by the need to carry tactical and hazardous material gear,†Wiley added. “The Chevrolet Police Tahoe is capable of meeting the rigors of all these needs.â€
Even with its second-row seats fully upright, Police Tahoe delivers an incredible 60.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity for such items as gun cases, haz-mat equipment and other gear and materials that law enforcement officers may require to do their jobs. The second-row seats may be individually folded forward, adding even more cargo capacity. Second-row seats come with inboard headrests and reclining seatbacks. With both second-row seats folded, Police Tahoe delivers a cavernous 108.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
Fiscally responsible
A number of municipalities are turning to vehicles such as the Chevrolet Police Tahoe because it’s a fiscally responsible proposition. Although the initial cost is higher than that of a sedan, the increased capability and durability, longer lifecycle and higher residual value can combine to make Tahoe the more cost-effective choice, said Wiley.
The Police Tahoe joins the Chevrolet Impala Police Vehicle, Chevrolet Tahoe Special Services and Chevrolet Express Prisoner Transport Van in GM’s lineup of law enforcement vehicles. Every vehicle GM offers to law enforcement agencies is “road ready,†meaning they can be delivered completely equipped and ready for use.
Tahoe Police Vehicle
Type: Police Vehicles
Seating Cap: 3-6
Fuel Type: Gas
Engine Displacement: 5.3L
Trans Type: 4-speed Automatic
MSRP: $34,370-$47,210
What’s New on the 2007 Chevrolet Police Tahoe
Vortec 5300 V8 with Active Fuel Management and FlexFuel E85 capability
Available roof-mounted head curtain side air bags
Larger four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS
140 mph-certified analog instrumentation
Horn/siren/speaker/grille lamps wiring
Daytime Running Lamps and automatic headlights fleet delete
Remote Keyless Entry with 6 added remotes for fleet
SUMMARY
WARRANTY 3 years / 36,000 miles
INTERIOR FEATURES
AIR CONDITIONING Front Manual, Single Zone w/Air Filtration & Environmentally Friendly Refrigerant (R134A)
ASH TRAY Smokers Package Not Available
CRUISE CONTROL Electronic with Set and Resume Speed
CUP HOLDER Cup Holder with Storage Tray Between Seats
FLOOR COVERING Carpeting Front and Rear (Carpeted Mats – See Option B34 on Page 11)
GLASS Tinted Windshield, Backlight and Side Glass
LIGHTING Auxiliary, Interior, Sustained Illumination
LOCKS Power Programmable with Lockout Protection, Driver Door Lock Cylinder. Lock Cylinders No Longer
Available on Passenger Front Door and Trunk Lid. Child Safety Locks In Rear Doors
MIRRORS, VISOR Visor, LH and RH with Covered Vanity Mirrors
MIRROR, REARVIEW Inside Rearview is Manual Day Night with Driver and Passenger Map Lights
RADIO Electronically Tuned AM/FM Stereo with CD Player, Seek-Scan, Digital Clock, Auto-tone Control, Theft Lock
with Integrated Rear Window Antenna (Radio Delete is not Available)
RESTRAINT SYSTEM Seat Belts with Dual Stage Driver & Passenger Frontal Air Bags with Passenger Side Frontal Air Bag
ON/OFF Indicator
SEAT, FRONT High Density Foam Bucket Seats with Seat Back Security Panel, 6-Way Power Driver’s and Passenger
Seat with Manual Reclining Seat Backs and Manual Lumbar Control on Driver’s Seat
SEAT, REAR Vinyl with High Density Foam
SPEEDOMETER/CLUSTER 140 MPH Analog, Certified, 5 MPH Increments with Digital Trip Odometer, Warning Lights and Driver
Information Center Includes 1 MPH Redundant Digital Speed Display
STEERING WHEEL Tilt Steering Wheel, Column Mounted Gear Shift Lever
SURVEILLANCE SWITCH No longer Available
TRUNK MAT Heavy-Duty
TRUNK RELEASE Electric (Not Ignition Controlled), Button Located on Instrument Panel, Left of Steering Column. Manual
Inside Trunk Safety Release
WARNING LIGHTS Brake, Seatbelt, Air Bag, Anti-lock Brake and Check Engine
WARNING, AUDIBLE Key in Ignition, Driver Door Open
WINDOWS Power with Rear Window Lockout Switch
EXTERIOR FEATURES
BODY PANELS Two-Sided Galvanized Steel for All Exterior Body Panels Except Roof
DEFOGGER Electric, Rear Window
HEADLAMPS Dual Halogen Composite, Includes Flash-to-Pass Feature and Automatic Lamp Control with Daytime Running Lights.
KEYLESS ENTRY Includes Two Transmitters with Non-Functional Panic Button. The Keyless Entry System Used on the Police Impala is Designated to Maintain a “Stealth†Exterior Appearance. When the “Unlock†or “Lock†Button is Depressed, no Exterior Lighting or Audible Sounds are Activated. However, the Interior OEM Dome Lamp will Illuminate Unless Option 7Y6 Interior Dome Lamp Defeat is Ordered, During Remote Start Feature Running Lights Will Remain Illuminated
KEYS Two Sided , Random Code, for Ignition and Driver Door Only. Single Key Locking System to Operate Entire Fleet is Available
LICENSE PLATE Front and Rear-Mounting Hardware Located in Glove Box
MIRRORS, REARVIEW Body Color, Electric LH and RH Remote
MOLDINGS Body Side, Non-Removable, Body Color
ONSTAR Not Available with Police Package
PAINT Base Coat/Clear Coat
WINDSHIELD WIPERS Intermittent, Anti-Lift with Washer
ELECTRICAL FEATURES
AUXILIARY POWER, FRONT 100 Amp Ignition and Main Power Supply Wiring at Lower Right Side of Instrument Panel
AUXILIARY POWER, TRUNK 100 Amp Auxiliary Power Outlet in Trunk
GROUND STUD Auxiliary
POWER OUTLETS 2 Auxiliary Power Outlets for Additional Plug-in Equipment Located on Lower Center of Instrument Panel
WIRING, PROVISION Forward Lamp In-Line Connector for Exterior Lamp Flashing System
EXT. LAMP FLASHING
CHASSIS FEATURES
ALTERNATOR 150 AMP with Idle Boost (Transmission in Park or Neutral) Based on Battery Energy Level
BATTERY 750 CCA with Battery Rundown Protection; Automatically Shuts off Courtesy Lights (Reading/Map Lights, Trunk and Glove Box Lights) to Protect the Battery. Lights are Automatically Turned off After 20 Minutes if They are Left on and the Ignition is in the “off†Position. (Does Not Protect Customer Installed Equipment)
BRAKES 4-wheel Anti-lock Disc Brakes with Police Calibration and Heavy Duty Front Brake Pads
COOLING Heavy-Duty (High Capacity) with 225 Watt Fans and Extended Life Coolant. Coolant Hoses are EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer) Rubber; Silicone Hoses are not Required
CHASSIS LUBRICATION Lubed-for-Life Chassis
ENGINE 3900 Series SFI V6 with Active Fuel Management and High Speed Fuel Cut-Off. Includes Wide Open Throttle Air Conditioning Cut Off. (When Overhead Lights, Spotlights, Radio Antennas, Sirens, and Other Emergency Equipment are Installed, Overall Performance May Be Somewhat Lower)
EXHAUST SYSTEM Stainless Steel, Single with Dual Outlets
FUEL TANK CAPACITY 17 Gallon (64 Liters)
OIL COOLERS Engine, Transmission and Power Steering Oil Cooler: External Air-to-Oil, Fin Type
RADIO SUPPRESSION Extended Life – Iridium Tip Spark Plugs and Wires That are Designed to Reduce Radio Frequency Noise Levels Which May Affect Communications Equipment Including Operating Frequencies in the 38 MHz to 58 MHz Range
STARTER INTERRUPT Prevents Starter from Engaging While the Engine Is Running
STEERING Power, Rack-and-Pinion
STRUTS, FRONT Heavy Duty
SUSPENSION 4-Wheel Independent, Firm Ride and Handling with Increased Ride Height Springs, Heavy Duty Front and Rear Stabilizer Bars
TIRES P225/60R16 SBR Blackwall, “V†Rated with Compact Spare
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR CHECK TIRE PRESSURE will Show on Driver Message Center
TRANSMISSION Heavy-Duty 4T65E 4-Speed Automatic, (Traction Control is Not Available on Police Package) Electronically-Controlled Transmission Provides Protection Against Over-Revving the Engine in Low Gear and a Mechanical Low Gear Blockout is Not Required. If a Driver Manually Selects LOW Gear and Fails to Manually Upshift to HIGH gear, the Powertrain Control Module Automatically Protects the Drivetrain
WHEELS 16†x 6.5†Heavy-Duty Steel
WHEEL CENTER CAP Chrome Bolt-on Metal
The unofficial GM Truck blog recently talked about the vehicle:
“According to the order guide, the Tahoe Police Vehicle will only be available as a 2WD unit, powered by GM’s 5.3L V8. Equipped with active-fuel management, E85 capability, and coupled through the 4L60-E automatic, this engine (code LMG) is identical in performance (320 hp, 340 lb-ft. torque) to the 5.3L available to the public.
Additionally, while GM’s write up of the “Z56 Suspension” on the Police Tahoe cites it as being “police duty”, comparison of it’s specifications show no change in sway bar and shock absorber diameters from a standard 2WD Tahoe. As this is still preliminary information, this is not yet certain.
In addition to the above, Tahoe Police Vehicles will also come standard with:
High-capacity air cleaner
160 amp alternator and 760 CCA battery (duals available as SEO)
Heavy-duty engine and transmission oil coolers
3.73:1 Rear Axle Ratio
Skid plate package
“Police balanced” prop-shaft
Grounding studs and radio suppression straps”