---
title: "Ford Mustang GT Morphs Into 479-HP Pony Car With New Ford Performance Tune"
description: "For those who want Bullitt Mustang power without the Steve McQueen cosplay."
date: "2020-05-05"
modified: "2020-05-05"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/33296/ford-mustang-gt-morphs-into-479-hp-pony-car-with-new-ford-performance-tune"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Coupe"
  - "Ford"
  - "Mustang"
  - "sports car"
---

# Ford Mustang GT Morphs Into 479-HP Pony Car With New Ford Performance Tune

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/05/New-Ford-Mustang-V8-GT-with-Performace-Pack-in-Orange-Fury-4.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

If you own a late-model [Ford Mustang GT](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/16214/2018-ford-mustang-review-a-muscle-car-to-be-thankful-for>), want Bullitt Mustang power, but aren't old enough to know who Steve McQueen is, you're in luck. [Ford Performance](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/32096/2020-ford-gt-gets-exposed-carbon-fiber-and-660-hp-thanks-to-racing-goodies>) introduced a power upgrade pack that spices up the V8 Mustang's engine without breaking the bank.

Available for automatic- and manual-transmission Mustang GTs from model years 2018 to 2020 (i.e. the facelifted models), the pack comes with a cold air intake, upgraded 87 mm throttle body and adapter, as well as software tweaks that apparently enhances the Ford [muscle car](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/29706/muscle-car-owners-are-dumping-mustang-camaro-challenger-for-jeep-wrangler-fca-boss-says>)'s throttle response and optimizes the shift mapping on the automatic cars for more performance-oriented driving.

The net result is 479 horsepower and 448 pound-feet of torque at their respective peaks—or 19 horsepower and 18 pound-feet more than stock. At 2,000 rpm, however, the torque gulf between the upgraded and standard car is a healthy 42 pound-feet, an amount that should make the upgraded Mustang feel even more punchy puttering around town.

![message-editor%2F1588690592233-m-9603-m8b\_gains.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1588690592233-m-9603-m8b_gains.jpg>)
**Ford Performance**

The package is listed to cost $1,275 but that's before installation which you'll probably want to have done by a Ford dealer or certified tech if you want to leave the kit's three-year/36,000-mile warranty intact. For reference, the 2020 Bullitt Mustang starts at $48,900, around $12,000 more than a barebones GT, although to be fair to the Bullitt, it does also come with red Brembo brakes, a Torsen limited-slip differential, more athletic suspension, and a tweaked active exhaust, [among other small performance revisions.](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/23410/2019-ford-mustang-bullitt-review-mcqueen-fan-or-no-a-special-edition-muscle-car-worth-the-upcharge>) Plus, that gorgeous green paint probably ain't free.

Full details on the upgrade kit can be found [here](<https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-9603-M8B>). No, it won't turn your Mustang into some [1,000-hp monster](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27058/ohio-ford-dealer-at-it-again-with-budget-conscious-1000-hp-twin-turbo-ford-mustang>) overnight but for the casual owner looking to dip their toes into the world of "modified" automobiles, this just might be the gateway purchase that leads to a lifelong, tire-smoking habit.

h/t: [*Car and Driver*](<https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a32352212/ford-mustang-gt-performance-kit/>)

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## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)