Dark Matters
Steeda Vehicles unleashes murdered-out Mustangs with over 800 horsepower
By Steve Turner
The beauty of the Mustang platform is its adaptability. Owners can paint its canvas to create the masterpiece of their dreams. Some like to do the work themselves and create something that screams out for attention. Others enjoy picking up a fully realized package that is a bit more under the radar. The latter is just what Steeda Vehicles is offering as part of its 2017 lineup—a special limited run of black on black Mustangs.
“It’s an entirely new vehicle. It’s got a trim package that we are just announcing. It’s called the Midnight Edition. This package includes a host of special cosmetic features and it’s a black on black theme. Not only do we have black Velgen wheels on this car, we also have black-on-black graphics. There’s a special black car cover for this vehicle. All the badging is done in black or black chrome,” Bob Adams of Steeda Vehicles explained. “It’s a very aggressive-looking, murdered-out vehicle that carries forward the aggressive manners that Steeda puts into all its vehicles. This does it from a cosmetic perspective as well.”
What will set this ebony machine apart from other Q750s is a laundry list of black accents right down to a black all-weather car cover emblazoned with a black Steeda logo. All the graphics from the hood accent to the windshield banner are black, the emblems are black chrome and even the headlight bezels and trim are black. Of course it rolls on black Velgen VMB9 wheels with Nitto tires. So, yeah, the Midnight edition lives up to its name.
“…Our original Street Fighter that we built back in the year 2000 was a black on black car, but this one we took to the extreme. We talk to our customers quite a lot and consumer demand was such that we thought, wow, let’s come out with a special edition” Bob said. “This edition we are calling the Midnight Edition and since midnight happens at 12 o’clock, what we are doing is coming out with 12 coupes and 12 convertibles for the North American market.”
For more on the Midnight Edition, check out our exclusive video interview…
[video=youtube;EkRGn3b0AFo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkRGn3b0AFo[/video]
The 2017 Steeda Midnight Edition is available based on the naturally aspirated Steeda Q500 Enforcer and the Whipple-supercharged Steeda Q750 StreetFighter as seen here. These vehicles take the superb S550 platform created by Ford and ramp them up with a full complement of Steeda and select other supporting aftermarket gear to create high-performance machines that will carve up the road like a scalpel.
“…We take all the great parts that Steeda Autosports manufactures under ISO9000 2008 standards, we take those parts and put them into a completed vehicle and sell the completed vehicles through our dealer network and directly to customers. We sell in North America as well as internationally,” Bob said. “It’s basically a way to provide a turn-key solution for those customers who don’t want to build their cars, but would rather have a turn-key solution of a car that is fully integrated and warrantied. Our cars carry a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty, and they are bulletproof…”
While the look of the Midnight Edition is what sets it apart, underneath it carries all the performance offered by Steeda’s top-end Q750 Mustang. This means it is upgraded from end to end with a Whipple supercharger, a Steeda Stage 2 G-Trac suspension/chassis upgrade package, Steeda exhaust, Steeda calibration and more.
“Suspension-wise, the car has been dramatically changed. Mustangs enthusiasts know that if you take a bone-stock Mustang GT, take it onto the street and drive it aggressively, you’ll have some axle hop and adhesion won’t be the best,” he added. “With all the suspension work we have done on this car, there is zero axle hop, event with the sticky, wide tires that we’ve got on it.”
With over 825 horsepower and 655 lb-ft of torque under your right foot, traction is imperative. Likewise, durability is pretty crucial as well, which is why Steeda swaps out the factory MT-82 six-speed manual in favor of Tremec’s robust Magnum XL six-speed manual.
“It is our top of the line model and it’s an all-in car. By all-in car, I mean that it’s got everything that we could throw at it—every bit of suspension magic that Steeda is noted for and it totally transforms the S550 Mustang,” Bob said. “On top of that it is supercharged. We are running the Whipple 2.9-liter supercharger. It also has a Tremec transmission upgrade. We are the only ones in the aftermarket that have successfully integrated the Magnum XL into the car. With this upgrade what we have is a transmission that is far more durable and can handle the added horsepower that the engine modifications deliver.”
We have driven several Steeda Q750 Mustangs over the years, and we also had the opportunity to briefly drive this one as we shuttled it between photo locations. It features that familiar Whipple Coyote power and switchblade-sharp Steeda handling, but the addition of the Magnum XL with its internal shifter delivered and even more aggressive feel to the driving experience.
In short the 2017 Steeda StreetFighter Q750 Midnight Edition is a limited production ’Stang that delivers the kind of performance to back up its sinister visage. The Q750 package starts at $29,995 plus the price of the car and any optional equipment. Adding the Midnight trim level adds another level to that price tag, but you’ll have one only of 24 murdered-out Steeda ’Stangs.
Here’s your first look at the 2017 Steeda Q750 Midnight Edition. In the light of the day you can really see how great the blackout-out accents look on this limited-edition machine.
The stock Coyote 5.0-liter engine in the Q750 Midnight Edition features a black coolant overflow tank, a black brake fluid reservoir cover and, most important, a black Whipple 2.0-liter supercharger, which ramps up the power quotient to over 825 ponies.
The Q750 Midnight Edition’s stance is on point. The car rides on a complete Steeda G-Trac suspension, including the company’s handling springs, Pro Action dampers, sway bars, camber plates, and a full complement of independent rear suspension enhancements.
Inside the Midnight Edition is equally black right down to the leather Recaro sport seats. Improving not only the looks of the cockpit but the feel of the driving experience is an all-black leather- and Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel. The Tremec direct shifter poking through the console actuates the vaunted Tremec Magnum XL six-speed. It also features a pair of illuminated Steeda Midnight Edition door sills.
Even the running horse is blacked out to blend into the factory grille on the Midnight Edition. Behind that grille on this car is the Steeda Severe-Duty Supercharger Cooling Upgrade Package, which adds two Spal high-speed fans to the Whipple supercharger intercooler to improve its efficiency at lower road speeds.
With that G-Trac stance it hovers right over the 20-inch Velgen VMB9 wheels wrapped in sticky NT-05 tires, which measure 275/35-ZR-20 in front and 315/35-ZR-20 out back.
Naturally, the Q750 features matte black exhaust tips on its Steeda/Bassani cat-back. This system sounds great with no drone and an aggressive sound when you open up the throttle. This unique system supplants the factory resonator with a single muffler that feeds two free-flowing pipes.
This is the first Steeda Midnight Edition created, but each of the 24 cars—12 coupes and 12 convertibles—scheduled for production in North America.
The Mod List
Powertrain
Block: Stock Coyote 5.0-liter
Crankshaft: Stock
Rods: Stock
Pistons: Stock
Camshafts: Stock
Cylinder Heads: Stock
Intake: Whipple Superchargers intercooled lower
Power Adder: Whipple 2.9-liter twin-screw supercharger
Fuel System: Stock w/ high-flow fuel injectors
Exhaust: Stock w/ Steeda/Bassani cat-back system
Transmission: Tremec Magnum XL six-speed manual (2.66 or 2.97 first gear ratio) w/ direct-mount Tremec shifter, blowproof steel clutch housing, 31-spline output shaft, race proven slip yoke rear interface, one-piece aluminum driveshaft and twin-disc race clutch
Rearend: Stock Super 8.8 w/ Steeda Adjustable Differential Bushing Insert System, Steeda IRS Subframe Alignment Kit and Steeda Rear IRS Subframe Support Brace
Electronics
Engine Management: Stock w/ Steeda custom performance calibration
Ignition: Stock
Front Suspension
K-member: Stock w/ Steeda Extreme G-Trac K-member support brace
A-arms: Stock
Struts: Steeda Pro-Action Adjustable
Springs: Steeda Sport
Brakes: Stock
Wheels: Black Velgen VMB9 wheels, 20x9-inch
Tires: 275/35-ZR-20 Nitto NT05 performance tires w/ TPMS and nitrogen tire fill
Rear Suspension
Shocks: Steeda Pro-Action Adjustable
Springs: Steeda Sport
Brakes: Stock
Wheels: Black Velgen VMB9 wheels, 20x10.5-inch
Tires: 315/35-ZR-20 Nitto NT05 performance tires w/ TPMS and nitrogen
