Secret Police Cars

Yeah, they have high-tech cameras and 007 gizmos and they'll probably spot you if you're doing something wrong (and even if you aren't, eh?) before you spot them, but it's always interesting to know what Smokey is driving. Ford's Crown Victoria is currently the most popular cop car in production. Lots of speeders have seen this bad boy in their rear view mirror. But there are other patrol vehicles that you road warriors should recognize, many faster than the Crown Vicky. Unmarked vehicles are used all across the once-fruited plains.

Chevy's Impala is not only one of the best-selling U.S. cars, it's the perfect choice for police departments looking for cars that blend in with traffic. Custom fitted with the special Police Package (code 9C1), this mid-size sedan with a 3.9-liter V-6 engine hits an impressive 140 mph.

Police departments want strength and power (why else become a bully with a badge?) so they go for a full-size SUV. Fitted with the special PPV option, the big Chevy Tahoe SUV can hit 133 mph thanks to its high-performance 5.3-liter V-8 with 320 horsepower. Look for the black wheels with tiny center hubcaps as a tip-off should you see one unmarked or without a light bar.

Dodge built their last Magnum police car in '08, but many cop shops still have these station wagons in service. Fitted with the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, the wagon can hit 131 mph and charge up to that speed with muscle-car type performance. The wagon sprints from 0-60 mph in under six seconds. Try that with a head-full of Nitris Oxcide, bubbah!

Spying a Dodge Charger in your rear-view should be enough to make you think twice about a high-speed chase, unless you have a gun turret mounted to your trunk. Equipped with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, the Charger can hit a staggering 146 mph, making the Dodge the fastest mainstream police car available.

Check this out: Harper Woods, Michigan borders Detroit. It's a sleepy bedroom community that packs a big surprise for anyone speeding on the section of I-94 running across its borders; beware the badge in the '05 Ford Mustang Shelby GT. Acquired to "boost community relations" and intimidate speeders, the Mustang's 4.6-liter V-8 puts out 300 horsepower and tops out at approximately 145 mph. Yee-ha!