Mustang GT Coupe

Make
Ford
Segment
Coupe

If you're still reeling from the news that the Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is being discontinued for the 2021 model year as Ford readies its new Mach 1 Mustang for launch, you might want to brace yourself: there's still more bad news.

The new Mach 1 isn't just supplanting the Shelby GT350 as Ford's new Mustang track star; according to the new official 2021 Mustang Order Guide, it's also ushering an end to the Ford Mustang GT Performance Pack 2. That's probably not going to ruffle nearly as many feathers, largely because while the Shelby GT350 got that excellent, high-revving masterpiece of a V8, the 5.2L "Voodoo", the Performance Pack 2 made do with Ford's much more common 5.0L Coyote. Even still, you should care.

The Level 2 Performance Pack, introduced as a track-ready high-performance package on the 2018 Ford Mustang GT, was always a bit of a gamble. It's essentially a targeted response to Chevrolet's track-focused Camaro SS 1LE, with the Level 1 Performance Pack's specially tuned Brembo brakes, unique ESC and steering rack tuning, a K-member, upsized radiator, and 3.73:1 Torsen rear end, but with even more goodies beside.

Those goodies include a rebalanced suspension with stiffer sway bars and stiffer coil springs; a downforce-generating front spiltter and rear spoiler; a fetching set of unique 19-inch wheels with 1.5 inches more tire section width than the standard GT; and most important of all, MagneRide adjustable dampers.

Unfortunately, the cost of all this is considerable - springing for the Level 2 Performance Pack on a 2020 Mustang GT will set you back $8,500 over the base MSRP - and more importantly, it was offered only with a six-speed manual transmission. At a time when even many of the most die-hard car enthusiasts are embracing automatics for their expedient shifts and quick 0-to-60 times, that move alone probably alienated about half of the car's potential customer base - maybe more.

So pour one out for the S550 Mustang GT Performance Pack 2. It wasn't the quickest Mustang, nor necessarily the coolest, but boy was it great to drive.