Few things in this world are better than the 5.2-liter flat-plane-crank V8 in the 2020 Ford Mustang GT350R. Yeah, that's right, literally. If you doubt it, you just haven't experienced revving it to the 8,250-rpm redline shifted through a six-speed manual. The noise, the response, the power … did we mention the noise? It's shockingly been around for nearly five years now, yet the buzz has yet to wear off. It probably never will. Of course, that V8 glory is found in the regular GT350 as well. The R variant stands taller with its lighter weight and greatly improved track capability and durability. Ford adds separate coolers for the engine oil, transmission fluid and differential fluid. The suspension is tuned to be slightly stiffer with heavy-duty springs. And then there are the wheels. All GT350Rs come with painted carbon fiber wheels as standard, a performance addition typically saved for supercars — don’t curb them. They save 60 pounds over the normal GT350 wheels and are not offered on the non-R. More weight savings come from the deletion of the backseat, and if you so desire, the A/C and radio as well. We recommend keeping those last two. Aero changes arrive in the form of an R-specific front splitter and large carbon fiber rear wing. Finally, Ford shod those carbon fiber wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires (now also available on the regular GT350). They don’t like the rain, or anything really, besides a nice, warm stretch of tarmac.
For 2020, Ford picked at the GT350R with a fine-toothed comb, plucking parts off the not-for-sale-yet GT500 to make the lower numbered GT just a hair more enticing. Changes are as follows: The high-trail steering knuckle coming to the GT500 was used to aid tramlining (when a vehicle excessively follows the contours of the road), and the front suspension has been massaged to improve handling. Ford swapped the drilled rotors for solid ones — engineers say they get better pad life out of the solid rotors, and we noticed zero fade out on track. The electric steering, stability control and ABS have all been re-tuned. Then, Ford added a few convenience items like blind-spot warning and a B&O audio system to the Technology package to make the car slightly more livable on the street.
Let’s set aside the convenience features for now, because the GT350R would be tested this day at a racetrack. M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Mich., to be specific, and just like a kid in a McDonald’s play structure, leaving was the hardest part. It's a track that rewards an excellent handling car more so than one with a ton of horsepower. One might think a Mustang would fall into the latter category, but that’s where the GT350R works its magic. No factory Mustang built by Ford is as capable on a road course as this Shelby, and the refreshed version of it impresses all the more.

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/15/2020-ford-mustang-shelby-gt350-first-track-drive-review/