Law enforcement agencies can’t seem to get enough of the S650-generation Ford Mustang. Just this year, we’ve seen the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Virginia State Police, and Indiana State Police deploy Coyote V-8-powered Mustangs, and now, even more cops are joining the mix.
The New York State Police are set to deploy one 2025 Ford Mustang GT and are anticipating additional 2026 model year units in the new year, the agency confirmed in a statement to Road & Track on Thursday.
“The New York State Police will be adding Ford Mustang GTs for traffic enforcement on high-volume interstates and highways. Since the Dodge Charger police car is no longer being manufactured, the State Police is moving toward SUVs for patrol vehicles, including the Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Tahoe. The Mustangs will supplement the SUVs at a much lower price point,” the statement reads.
New York State Police
A NYSP spokesperson says the Mustangs are being brought in thanks to their handling characteristics. Additionally, the spokesperson clarified that the Mustangs would not be used in the winter.
Richland County Sheriff’s Department / Facebook
“They also have the speed and handling capabilities necessary for patrol operations and special enforcement details on high-volume interstates and highways, working together with the patrol SUVs. The NYSP has purchased one 2025 Mustang GT and anticipate attaining a number of 2026 Mustang GT models. Each troop is expected to get several Mustang GTs but specific numbers and assignments have not yet been worked out. The Mustangs should be available for patrol and traffic enforcement sometime next year,” the spokesperson said.
Images of the grey-liveried Mustang GTs have begun circling on social media in the last few days, showing off a relatively stock build with a few extra antennas. It’s unclear exactly what else has been modified on the muscle car, but we suspect the package is very similar to those found in North Carolina and Virginia. If that’s the case, New York State troopers can likely expect a 486 hp, 415 lb-ft of torque 5.0-liter V-8 powerplant as well as larger Brembo brakes, upgraded suspension, a Torsen limited-slip differential, and extra chassis bracing that comes along with the Performance Pack. That’s a good deal of power and the right kind of dynamic components to keep up with even the hottest BMW M cars and Mercedes-AMG models, if and when necessary.
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A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022 and Road & Track in 2024. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a BMW 318i E30 street parked in his Queens community.