DETROIT — It's a first for police cars: Doors that can protect officers against armour-piercing bullets.
Ford will soon be offering the doors on its Police Interceptor sedans and SUVs.
The doors are designed to stop a .30-calibre bullet shot from a high-powered rifle. They're made from ceramic tile, which breaks up the bullet, and a layer of a Kevlar-like material that catches the shrapnel.
Ford has offered ballistic panels on its police car doors since 2008. But previous versions protected against handgun fire and non-armour piercing bullets.
Ford says police departments made frequent requests to upgrade the doors, particularly in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The doors won't be sold to non-police customers.
Ford hasn't said how much it will charge, but the previous versions cost $1,500 per door.