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The Carbon Motors E7: A new police car prototype equipped with sensors for weapons of mass destruction and automatic numberplate scanners has become the talk of a law enforcement convention in the US.


The purpose-built Carbon E7 is a 300-horsepower car that runs on biodiesel fuel, making it both faster and greener than current model police vehicles.

“It’s really a homeland security machine, not a cop car,” said E7 spokesman William Li.

The car features 88 original features, including a “hoseable” backseat.

The prototype’s maker, Carbon Motors, promotes the E7 as “a new brand of justice”. The company reportedly asked for input from nearly 2000 police officers in a bid to make the car “cop friendly”.

Carbon Motors said there would need to be 20,000 E7s among the current 240,000-strong US police vehicle force for the car to be economically viable.

If the prototype gets the greenlight, the car is set to go into production from 2012.

“There certainly is opportunity for niche vehicle manufacturers nowadays unlike any time since the beginning of the auto industry,” car expert Brett Smith said to ABC.

“You could easily get a big boy in there,” said police officer Matt Garrison after observing the rear door access.

The front seat was made to resemble a “helicopter-style cockpit”, the company said.

“There certainly is opportunity for niche vehicle manufacturers nowadays unlike any time since the beginning of the auto industry,” car expert Brett Smith said to ABC.

“I can’t decide if this car makes me dislike cops more or less.” said owner of TheChive.com, Leo Resig.

The intriguing Carbon Motors E7, is so-called “purpose built” police car that can run on biodiesel and has such features as integrated shotgun mounts, a driver-specific intelligent key and a “hose-able rear passenger compartment.” This vehicle is built specifically for police work only, compared to retrofitted civilian-to-police cars such as the Dodge Charger, Ford Crown Victoria or Chevy Impala.
“It should be illegal to impersonate a police car,” says the sales brochure, which also describes the E7 as “a new brand of justice.”
The Carbon E7, which is on a nationwide rollout, is powered by a 3.0-liter diesel that churns out 300 horsepower and delivers 420 pound-feet of torque. The engine is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. The E7 rides on a 122-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 4,000 pounds. Its makers say it sprints from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph. It also boasts a 75-mph rear impact crash capability.
Carbon Motors said detailed pricing on the E7 will be announced in a few months.