The Commodore based and Holden developed Chevrolet Caprice PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle) has begun active service as a Police cruiser in the States.

The Caprice PPV was on trial in a number of American counties and now orders for the vehicle are beginning to be received. It’s set to replace existing fleets of Ford Crown Victoria and Chevrolet Impala models.

American Police departments trialed various makes and models including newer front-wheel-drive Impalas and even Toyota Prius hybrids. But for front-line patrolling, where high-speed driving is common, many officers prefer large, rear-drive models. The Caprice PPV also has specially designed cutaway areas to allow officers wearing a gun belt to sit comfortably. Under the bonnet is a 6.0-litre V8 engine pumping out 355 horsepower.

The Caprice PPV has been ordered by departments in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Forsyth County, Georgia with many more expected to follow.

“We’ve had our vehicles for a month, and we’re sold. This will be a worthwhile investment,” Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton said.

In Forsyth County, that amounts to 175 orders for Holden’s Elizabeth plant to fill, on top of 23 sales of unmarked detective variants built during the trial phase. The Caprice PPV proved itself in recent independent testing where it beat out the Ford Taurus and the Dodge Charger police vehicles.

Cedar Rapids PD Fleet Services Manager Dennis Hogan claims the Caprice PPV was the most suitable for officers who spend much of their time in the field.

“We view the police vehicle as an extended office for our officers,” Hogan said. We chose the Caprice because it delivers optimal officer operational space, trunk and storage space, and generally provides our officers the most-suitable operating environment.”

While the Caprice isn’t available to the American public in Chevy or Holden forms, its appearance on the streets gives fans of large, fast sedans a reason to pressure Chevrolet into a civilian offering.