Most Mustang owners turn to Steeda because they want their car to accelerate harder, corner flatter, or feel sharper. So, why would the police be any different? They’re not! Which is why the longtime Ford tuner is now applying the same philosophy to Mustangs wearing lights, sirens, and push bars.
Steeda has completed an S650 Mustang for the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office in South Georgia as part of its Special Service Vehicle Program. Rather than chasing a giant horsepower number, the modifications concentrate heavily on handling, traction, and braking.
This isn’t Steeda’s first experience with law enforcement vehicles. The company says it has worked with police agencies and platforms, including the Ford Explorer, for years, developing packages around the particular demands departments place on their vehicles.
The Lowndes County project takes that experience to Ford’s latest Mustang. According to Steeda, this car is the first of five Mustangs it expects to modify for the department.
This Isn’t An 800-HP Police Mustang
Under the hood we still find Ford’s naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V8 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. While Steeda resisted the temptation to add a supercharger, it still fitted its ProFlow high-flow air filters and a stainless-steel resonator-delete H-pipe for a bit more oomph and noise.
Most of the work happened underneath. The Mustang received Steeda IRS subframe support braces, a subframe bushing support system, and an alignment kit designed to reduce unwanted movement at the rear and provide more predictable behavior under acceleration and through quick direction changes.
Adjustable front and rear sway bars were added to control body roll, while camber plates and a strut-tower brace further address chassis response. Steeda deliberately avoided lowering springs because police equipment adds weight and the Mustang’s front push bar was already showing evidence of scraping.
Better Brakes Were Part Of The Plan
Stopping performance received attention as well. Steeda fitted G-Loc brake components while keeping the existing brake hardware, an approach intended to improve braking without requiring an expensive replacement of the complete system.
A Valdosta Police Department officer driving another Steeda-equipped S650 Mustang said the difference was immediately noticeable. After responding to a serious crash, he told Steeda the upgraded car slowed much more quickly and said, “I feel more confident driving this.”
That real-world feedback is central to what Steeda says it’s trying to accomplish. The company isn’t positioning these cars as modified police hot rods, but as vehicles that can offer better control during demanding situations.
Steeda Wants More Police Fleets
Steeda’s Special Service Vehicle Program isn’t limited to Mustangs. The company says packages can also be developed for the Explorer Police Interceptor, F-150, and other compatible Ford platforms, covering everything from suspension and brakes to powertrain, wheels, and tires.
The packages aren’t necessarily identical, either. Steeda says it considers each agency’s operating environment, vehicle load, and intended use before selecting modifications.
So, while your next encounter with a police Mustang probably won’t involve an 800-hp supercharged monster, there’s a chance it could be wearing some of the same suspension parts found in enthusiast garages across the country. One thing’s for sure: these cop cars just became that much harder to outrun on a twisty road.