The Ford Mustang can be customized in a number of different ways and we’re seeing a full lineup of them at the 2017 SEMA Auto Show. One of these cars is this particular Mustang. It may look the part of an actual police car - it even has a push bar, for crying out loud! - but it’s anything but one. What it is though is a custom Guardian-themed police car created by Drag Racing Against Gangs and Graffiti (DRAGG), a non-profit, youth-oriented automotive after-school program that encourages kids to race on the drag strip against actual police officers.

I don’t know if this Mustang can hold its own on a drag strip, but I’m pretty sure it’s not built for that environment either since it’s been described, among other things, as “eco-friendly.” However it’s made out to be, this Mustang does have a bigger purpose than just being a SEMA showpiece. It was created by DRAGG to be a symbol of unity and purpose, to encourage troubled kids to turn their backs on knucklehead environments and focus on being a part of improving their communities together with the local police forces that serve these locations. Visually, it’s one of the most arresting (no pun intended) creations among all the SEMA-bound Mustangs. Purposefully, it’s probably one of the most important customized Mustangs we’ve seen in quite a while.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Ford Mustang by DRAGG

Exterior

It’s hard to resist the urge of calling this a cop car because it’s all dressed like one. It’s got all the graphics and logos of a police cruiser and it even has Federal Signal emergency lighting and an actual push bar, two components that were provided for by West Coast Lights and Siren and Metalhaus Inc., respectively. On the aero front, the Mustang receives a custom front splitter from Rally Innovations, a custom rear spoiler from Petty’s Garage, and a set of 20-inch Velgen VFMP10 wheels that are all wrapped up in Michelin tires, measuring 275/30/20 in the front and 305/30/20 at the back.

It’s hard to imagine this Mustang not striking fear in the hearts of those that cross paths with it. I certainly wouldn’t want to have this car occupying real estate space in my rear view mirror. The good news is that it’s actually not a full-fledged police car, but the mere suggestion that it looks like one is enough to guarantee it’s legitimacy.

Interior

If this were an actual police cruiser, the interior will take on a completely different look to it. It’s going to have a screen that separates the front and rear sections and it’s going to have one of those fancy computers that cruisers all have. It might even have live ammunition all over it. But none of those are present in this Mustang. Instead, the interior looks exactly like what a standard ‘Stang cabin should look like. There are added benefits like a leather interior kit from Katzkin, a sport pedal kit, and an audio system from Kicker. But by and large, the interior is just a well-dressed version of a standard cabin. I don’t know if that’s a good thing, but it’s how it’s presented. We’ll take it for what it is.

Drivetrain

At the heart of this fearsome creation is a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that produces 310 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. It’s unclear though if the output still stands after all the tuning work done on the car’s engine. On that end, the additions include a new cold air intake from Air Raid, high-performance coatings from Jet-Hot, a new Borla exhaust system from Ford Performance, and enough engine oil products from Lucas Oil that will ensure that the whole engine runs as smooth as smooth can be.

Given its redesigned purpose, I’d still be surprised if the output on this Mustang approaches the numbers provided by the big dog V-8 Mustang. That version is good for 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of twist, which might be a lot to ask for this tuned version sporting the smaller EcoBoost engine. I do expect improved performance out of it, even if there are minimal gains from a power point-of-view. It certainly would behoove even the most hardcore of tuners to put all the improvements in this section without at least expecting any improvements to come out of all of it.

On the chassis and suspension front, we can at least confirm that there are also tangible upgrades featured in the program. Lowering springs from Ford Performance should help ensure a more spirited ride while the Eibach sub-frame and rear sway bars from America Muscle will do nothing but help improve the ‘Stang’s toughness and durability. Last but not least are the six-piston high-performance brakes from Wilwood. If for nothing else, any decent tuning project on the Ford muscle car will need nothing less than stronger brakes.

Conclusion

I’m a big fan of this custom job for a number of reasons. First, I like that DRAGG went with one of its core missions and dressed it up as a police car. It’s not an actual police car in terms of overall function, but it certainly looks like one from a visual point of view. I also like that the NGO didn’t try to do too much to promote its message. It’s already clear with the final product and any additions that it could’ve made wouldn’t have made any difference. Resisting the urge to go all-out on the cabin upgrades is also a nice move, although I wouldn’t be surprised if other people thought differently. I just think it would’ve been unnecessary because at the end of the day, this custom project is more than just a tuning build. It’s a call for something bigger and far more important. It’s a call for troubled young kids to resist the urge of the streets and use the time they have on something more worthwhile like, say, drag racing with local police officers. It’s not the safest after-school activity by any means, but it’s one that fosters positive relations between the community and the law enforcement officials that try to keep it as safe as safe can be.

References

Ford Mustang

Read our full review on the 2018 Ford Mustang.

Read more 2017 SEMA Show news.