The Dodge Charger Pursuit was a special car, though of course drivers seeing it in their rearview mirror may not have agreed. That’s because this ride was used by law enforcement departments across the United States. While these vehicles have been out of production for a couple of years, that’s all changing with the introduction of a brand-new 2027 model.
This new Charger will use a Hurricane turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, though the high-output version of this engine may not be offered. Dodge hasn’t announced the final model’s exact horsepower yet. The Charger will have an all-wheel-drive system, which should be useful for patrolling in different weather conditions, as well as a hatchback that makes it easier for officers to carry different kinds of gear. The car will also need to meet specific requirements for police equipment and interior functionality.
The prototype of the new 2027 Charger Pursuit was unveiled in Daytona, Florida, where Dodge showed the car to law-enforcement fleet professionals. This gave police agencies their first look at the vehicle, which is expected to return sometime in 2027. It’s expected to be the only police sedan available when it arrives. As of this writing, it’s unknown which law enforcement agencies will order the Charger Pursuit for their departments.
The rise of the police utility vehicle
While Dodge did not release a statement regarding the discontinuation of the Charger Pursuit, the change became apparent through other channels. For example, Dodge did not submit a Pursuit during the 2023 Michigan State Police testing event. According to Police and Security NewsStellantis representatives said the Charger was no longer in production. Then, in March 2024, Dodge announced a new strategy that would see the Charger get a redesign, with a fully electric version available.
However, Dodge did not immediately leave the police-vehicle market behind. After the Charger Pursuit was discontinued, Dodge continued to offer the iconic Durango Pursuit. This pursuit-rated utility vehicle remained an important part of Dodge’s law-enforcement lineup and was available to departments with either a V6 or a HEMI V8. But the Durango was just one example of a broader move by law enforcement agencies toward utility vehicles.
In fact, in the wake of the Charger Pursuit’s departure, many police fleets relied on sport utility vehicles instead of sedans more and more in the years that followed. By 2025, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility had become the top-selling police vehicle in the United States. But it wasn’t the only police utility vehicle on the road, as the Chevrolet Tahoe and Dodge Durango were also used by law enforcement departments around the country.