After spending a week with a fully-loaded 2020 Ford Mustang HPP, Travis from SVT Performance can’t make a case for the handling-oriented spec over the Coyote V8-engined GT optioned with the Performance Pack Level 2. The GT PPL2 has been discontinued, though, late in 2020.
The Blue Oval pulled the plug on the ultimate version of the GT after revealing the Mach 1, which is now the king of Coyote-powered ponies. The Mach 1 also replaces the Shelby GT350 and GT350R, which is a bit of a bummer considering the loss of the Voodoo flat-plane crankshaft motor.
Turning our attention back to the four-cylinder turbo with the high-output tune, “this car drives very nicely.” The owner of and reviewer atSVT Performance has also waxed lyrical about the whole package, including the dynamics and build quality. Described as “way better than my 2015 Mustang EcoBoost,” the High Performance Package “is way better put together.”
There is, however, a bit of an elephant in the room. Ford is charging $4,995 for the High Performance Package, which develops 332 horsepower and 350 pound-feet (475 Nm) of torque. The Focus RS used to crank out 350 horsepower, which means that someone has artificially dialed back the HPP for whatever reason. As for the Velocity Blue example in the following videos, the sticker price can be described as overly exaggerated at $43k.
Capable of 270 horsepower and 335 pound-feet (454 Nm) of torque at the rear wheels, the reason this HPP is dramatically expensive in comparison to a V8-engined model is the number of options that help with handling and daily driving. In no particular order, the two-door coupe from Flat Rock, Michigan is kitted with the Equipment Group 201A at $2,200, the EcoBoost Handling Package at $1,195, and Recaro body-hugging bucket seats at $1,995.
The verdict? Well, it’s pretty obvious from the headline, isn’t it? “I do like this car, but I just don’t think it’s for me,” said Travis from SVT Performance.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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