Law enforcement and emergency services agencies can now get a Ford F-150 made to suit their needs. With a special interior and a heavy duty alternator, the Special Service Vehicle (SSV) package can accommodate everything from bulky communications equipment to firearms.
Since keeping the world safe from itself can be a messy job, SSV trucks come with perhaps the most important accessory of all: hose-offable vinyl seats. Police officers, firefighters and park rangers, you know what I'm talking about.
Ford said the SSV upgrade comes at no extra charge to government agencies and fleet customers, and will be available in both extended and crew cab configurations. Customers will have a choice between the 365 hp 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 and the 360 hp 5.0 liter V8, although we don't know why anyone would take the V8 over the EcoBoost mill. The EcoBoost is a little more powerful, gets slightly better gas mileage and, according to Ford, can tow 1,300 pounds more than its eight-cylinder counterpart.
Buyers can also choose between rear-wheel-drive and 4x4 drivetrains, and select all sorts of other goodies like heavy duty tires and skid plates. But aside from the 220-amp alternator to power bad guy and fire defeating/victim rescuing equipment, and front seats designed to make room for it all, the SSV is still pretty much the same F-150 everyone else has.
That's a good thing. The F-150's long running top seller rating speaks for itself.
Photo credit: Ford Motor Company