The 2021 Ford Mach 1 will join a cadre of modern muscle cars providing affordable performance.

When Ford announced the discontinuation of the Mustang GT 350—many in the pony world wept.

The GT 350 provided an opportunity to own a high-performance American muscle car, without the exorbitant super-car price tag. In fact, the move may have seemed counterintuitive, considering the recent release of the mid-engine Corvette that sported a surprisingly affordable price tag.

Now we know the method behind the madness at Ford. In late May, the American car company announced the production plans for a 2021 Mach 1. Management promises "the most track-capable 5.0-liter Mustang ever."

In the age of electric power trains and turbo, Ford designed the new Mustang Mach 1 as a naturally aspirated V-8. Yes, an engine with 8 cylinders in the new millennium will be built!

From the business perspective, Ford's desire for a traditional high-performance muscle car makes sense. Dodge's Challenger model has dominated the track-ready muscle car market for the past few years. The Challenger became known for its higher-end muscle performance models.

Chevrolet also joined the party, introducing their new mid-engine Corvette Stingray.

Both lines of vehicles provided track-ready performance at an affordable price.

Other than engine displacement and the 8 cylinders, very little has been released about the upcoming Mach 1. Pricing and details are unknown, but the vehicle will be produced in limited numbers. Potential buyers should be prepared for Challenger Hellcat type price levels.