No, this was to maintain market share although it could be used as a
police car in some areas. This appears to be a good seller for Ford,
but time will tell if it stays around. (I think it will) This car has
an incredible amount of room and fills the niche between the Taurus and
the Crown Vic.
Police car drivers like the feeling of a heavy rear wheel drive car
equipped with push bars so they can nudge somebody off the road if
needed......   ;-)

Ford just hates spending money to new cars...they'd rather buy failing
car companies..  The '78 Fox platform was used thru the '04
'Stang.........how long since the full-size cars have been redesigned?
1979?  Taurus came out when - '86 and has only been tweaked since.

They needed a new car.......and I understand that the structure is
primarily Volvo, as is the CVT and 4 wheel drive option.  But....I
personally like it.....nice and roomy interior, and you could put a
casket in the trunk.....all in a mid-size car.  All the magazines
complain that it's underpowered and slow - wow, we've come a long way -
0 to 60 in 8 seconds would have been hi-per a couple years ago, but now
it's a slug (in others' opnions).  Then there are those who say the
styling is dull .....but if it said J.A.Pan & Co on it all the pundits
would be orgasmic.

I understand the Sable is already out of production with the Taurus to
follow in the Fall.  The 500 is selling well, but unfortunately, does
not equal the drop in Taurus sales.  FoMoCo is in deep doo-doo.