Ford’s Crown Victoria’s reign as queen of police cars might be over and the Dodge Charger may be its successor. The Dodge Charger debuted in 2006 and with its looks, police cars may no longer be the average cars with sirens on their roofs but a sleek full-size vehicle. According to tests conducted by the federal government, the Charger has great speed and handling responsible for its 75,000 unit sales per year.

"We've been steadily gaining market share and acceptance for the police vehicle since its inception," said Chrysler LLC spokeswoman Shawn Morgan. "We see that trend continuing."

16 million car sales is the target of the automotive industry this year. Although not a very appealing marketing strategy for automakers, the position of being the police vehicles is important because it gives automakers the chance to test the usefulness of their vehicles.

"That vehicle has to accommodate a bunch of requirements — it's an officer's first-aid station, comfort area for accident victims, command post for a crime scene. Next thing you know it's involved in a high-speed run, responding to a heart attack, chasing a criminal," said Lt. David Halliday, who leads the Michigan State Police's annual police vehicle tests that serve as a national standard for law enforcement.

"We really ask (the automakers) to do an enduring duty for the public that's often underestimated," he said.

Tests conducted by the police on 2008 model vehicles discovered that with the Charger’s 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine gave the fastest acceleration highest top speed and shortest braking distances.

"Law enforcement has always liked good performance in a vehicle," Halliday said. "For example, the (5.7-liter) Charger has a top speed of (nearly) 150 mph. If you're in the market for a vehicle that has that kind of performance, that kind of vehicle will fit the bill."