An all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. It's a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a host of specialized equipment and features. (By GM, Wieck)

Starting next June, there could be a whole different look to police cars prowling American streets. That's when General Motors says its new Chevrolet Caprice patrol car will be delivered to police agencies around the country.

The rear-wheel-drive Caprice, a version of the vehicle based on the old Pontiac G8 and still made in Australia, will compete against Chrysler's Dodge Charger and Ford Taurus. Detroit automakers are trying to fill the gap being left by the departure of the Ford Crown Victoria, the big rear-wheel driver behemoth that has been a police mainstay for a decade.

It's not an easy choice for agencies. So far there is no perfect answer: the Taurus, called the Police Interceptor, isn't rear wheel drive, the Charger is smaller than the other two and the Chevy will be made overseas.

"When we began designing our latest police vehicle, we went directly to our customers and found that they were looking for a rear-wheel, large sedan with a V-8 engine," said Brian Small, general manager, GM fleet.

The Caprice won't be available for direct sales to the public and will be outfitting especially for police work.

It will have special seats to accommodate police officers' gun belts, a 355-horsepower V-8 engine that can chase down speeders by hurtling zero to 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds and a six-speed transmission. There is even available rear head protection side air bags to protect arrestees or ride-alongs.

"Chevrolet's history with law enforcement spans across almost as many years as the brand itself and we're ready to see the Caprice (police car) report for active duty," Small said.