GM’s rival from Dearborn, Ford Motor Company, this week revealed the details of its new “Performance Pack 2” for the refreshed Ford Mustang GT. The Blue Oval pony car has been updated for 2018 with fresh styling tweaks including a lower hood, an available 10-speed automatic transmission, and on the GT models, the latest version of the 5.0-liter DOHC Coyote V8, boasting dual-injection and 460 peak horsepower. Performance Pack 2 is a higher-spec version of the regular GT Performance Pack, featuring greater aerodynamic downforce, wider wheels with super-grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and standard MagneRide dampers with all-new calibrations.
Yet despite the obvious parallels with the Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE, Ford insists that the 2018 Mustang GT with Performance Pack 2 is not intended as a direct hot lap competitor to that performance-oriented pony car from the bow tie brand.
Instead, Ford says the Mustang GT Performance Pack 2 is about ensuring maximum driver satisfaction on curvy roads by optimizing grip and handling balance. It’s a package that’s been designed to “flatter the novice and reward the expert” – not go toe-to-toe with the Camaro SS 1LE at the track. If it’s a track toy, Ford says, you’re better off looking to the Shelby GT350/R Mustang.
Despite this, the Performance Pack 2-equipped 2018 Ford Mustang GT is 3.5 seconds quicker around a certain, twisty 2.0-mile road course than the Performance Pack 1 ‘Stang. That’s the sort of leap forward in performance that could put it within spitting distance of the SS 1LE, especially with the Mustang GT’s newfound horsepower.
That said, spec sheets are one thing; real-world testing is the only way to ascertain which of these high-aiming American sports coupes is truly supreme at the race track. That’s one comparison test we can’t wait to see.
For more information on Performance Pack 2 for the 2018 Ford Mustang GT, visit our sister site: FordAuthority.com.
Comments
That’s because the 1le falls between the gr350 and gr350r.
The price on this package is the same as the 1le and offers half the upgrades the 1le has. It’s an insult to Mustang fans and a sad sad excuse for a performance package. If it was $3500, ok. I see Mustang sales dropping big time next near unless things change.
Caveat?
Sounds like Ford has given up on direct competition regarding handling with the regular production versions of the two Ponies. What happened to> “A passion to create something special is what really drove this project,”_Ford engineer
Apparently the ‘PP2’ is not available on the EcoBoost?
The logical direct competitor to the ZL1 1LE is the GT350R.
But check the difference in those N-ring lap times…
– 2018 1LE (rank 15) 7m16s dead
– 2015 GT350R (rank 42) 7m32.19s.
I hope Ford run the 2018 model at the N-ring to see where their latest -R incarnation sits as a track-capable car against the new 1LE.
Source: https://nurburgringlaptimes.com/lap-times-top-100/
Subject is _ SS1LE versus GT-PP2
We’ll have to wait until we see the Nurburgring lap times.. although Chevrolet may have an ace up it’s sleeve for the Camaro in the form of the engine that the C7 Corvette ZR1 will be getting.
You don’t think they’ll hold off the LT5 (i’m picking it will be DOHC config not pushrod) for the C8 mid engine Vette, and just do a few tweaks to the existing LT4 plant for the 2018 front engined Vette to bump the power over 700+ (eg. bigger supercharger, reprofiled camshaft, better manifold and headers)?
This just makes me so.happy to hear that will not try to compete with the camaro model for model!
It’s funny Ford get 5 more hp then camaro and they act like Chevy needs to catch up!
“Chevy needs to catch up!” _ LMAoff! dog whistle marketing or internet fake noise
I don’t think Camaro engineers are losing any sleep over the new ‘improved’ Mustang GT. Marketing will be monitoring the situation, but, likely, won’t be in any hurry to ask for changes.
The only thing the performance pack 2 is going to do is allow it to be quicker than a v6 1le camaro on all tracks rather than some tracks. It’s needs to lose weight in order for it to be comparable to a ss 1le.
If the ATS-V’s engine was added to the Camaro order book, both the GT and SS would find a new formidable track competitor. And that combo is probably the future for Camaro’s.
Why would GM make that engine available on the camaro? Both engines have similar performance numbers. So I don’t see where the benefit would come from?
Yet only 4% of Camaro SS’s have the 1LE package, vs. 8% of Mustangs sold are GT350’s…. over 20% of Mustang GT’s are sold with the PP1 package, we’ll see about the PP2. Why should Ford bother competing with the 1LE, it exists pretty much only in magazine articles and couple of youtuber’s channels. And congratulations the Camaro GT4 is doing fantastic in IMSA GS series racing this year….
Spot on Steve, production is also 4% of a much smaller number of units produced. 1LE package SS is a very good car, but so is the Mustang PPL2, Ford engineers put in the skeleton of what is needed knowing that true track rats change the majority of springs, stabilizer bars, brake pad compounds and of course tires. Adding the cooling that is needed is more of a pain, but again not different from what you end up doing for a track car anyway, I have noticed a few more Camaros out on the road courses which is great, right now it’s a sea of Mustangs and Corvettes.
FoMoCo showing that they are loosing against GM, not even with cheating R tires the Mustang GT track pack was able to compete with the Camaro SS 1LE, and worst of all they didn’t provide enough cooling protection for their Mustang GT to be able to sustain track heating.