The Ford Mustang Interceptor Is Back

After nearly a year of additional testing and a delay caused by Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol has officially deployed its new fleet of Ford Mustang GT Police Interceptors. I know what you're thinking—electric vehicles have the edge in acceleration, so why not use those?

Gasoline-powered muscle cars are better equipped for sustained highway pursuits, plus they're faster to refuel, limiting downtime. Sorry, I don't make the rules.

The department’s purchase of 25 Coyote-powered Mustangs revives a special time during the late 80s and early 90s, when law enforcement agencies across the country used Ford’s Foxbody Mustang SSP (Special Service Package) models for highway patrol. From California to Texas to the Carolinas, the V8-powered Mustangs were once a common sight, daring speeders to try and run.

The 2025 Mustang GT and its 5.0L V8 offer 486 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The state opted for Ford's 10-speed automatic transmission instead of the GT's standard 6-speed manual transmission.

“These patrol vehicles, while small in number, will serve a valuable purpose throughout our state,” said North Carolina Highway Patrol commander Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. “Their presence while on patrol will undoubtedly help to serve as a deterrent and assist in our important role as ambassadors for the great state of North Carolina.”

Ford no longer offers a factory-built police package for the Mustang, meaning the department had to handle upgrades in-house. The highway patrol’s logistics team equipped the vehicles with necessary modifications before handing them over to the department’s driver training unit, ensuring troopers were well-versed in the Mustang’s vehicle dynamics. The Mustang Interceptor will offer a significant boost in highway enforcement over the slower and heavier Dodge Chargers.

The new Interceptos look to be equipped with the GT Performance Package, which includes Brembo brakes, heavy-duty front springs, a Torsen differential, a strut-tower brace, a bigger rear sway bar, and a front K-brace. The first of these new Mustangs was delivered last spring, but their rollout was delayed as the department shifted resources to disaster response following Hurricane Helene.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol also debuted a fleet of new Mustang pursuit vehicles last summer.

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