Make no mistake about it; we love us some rear-wheel drive cop car action. Nothing gets our blood going like those classic car chases with Crown Victorias slipping and sliding around the road, trying to catch up to the baddies. But in the real world, that slipping and sliding is dangerous for officers driving, especially those who have to combat the cold temperatures and snow that are frequent in the northern United States.

So cops across the country are no doubt rejoicing over Chrysler’s announcement last week that the police-only Dodge Charger Pursuit would be bringing back all-wheel drive with the HEMI V8 for the 2014 model year. This gives the new Charger more versatility, especially in colder, wetter climates where all-wheel drive makes all the difference.

If you recall, Chrysler did offer an all-wheel drive/HEMI setup up through the 2010 Charger Pursuit. However, the 2011 Charger refresh eliminated all-wheel drive as an option with the Pursuit models, for reasons that aren’t exactly clear. That meant only rear-wheel drive was offered for these Pursuit Chargers, which might make for some entertaining-yet-dangerous high-speed chases.

The all-wheel drive system may require that the 5.7 liter HEMI V8 gets slightly detuned, in order to protect the drivetrain from the massive torque produced by the big V8. Remember, cops aren’t easy on their cars; there is a lot of hard acceleration and sustained high speeds, so Chrysler has to ensure that the all-wheel drive can handle the punishment dealt by the police.

We’re still waiting for a few Charger Pursuit vehicles to pop up on eBay…nothing like a used cop car to become a new daily driver.