Muscle Car Madness is Back!

For the first time in 35 years Detroit’s three car companies are locked in a muscle car war, one that hearkens to an era when big engines, rakish styling and speed were clear signs of automotive dominance. With the introduction of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro in March, the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger now have a worthy and potent rival which could revive what was once one of the most exciting battles in the car industry. For brand loyal consumers, they know which car that they’ll root for, but for everyone else it’ll be a matter of choosing sides and going with the coupe that impresses them the most.

The timing of bringing the Camaro to the market seems terrible, given the high gas prices from last summer along with GM’s current financial plight. However, strong interest from buyers is there with more than 10,000 pre-orders made. Indeed, if you want to buy the all-new Camaro, you’ll have to wait four to six months for your coupe to arrive, such is the sales backlog.

The Dodge Challenger was rolled out in Spring 2008, just before gas prices peaked. Yet, the car’s retro styling appeal to enthusiasts, proving to be one of the few bright spots for beleaguered Chrysler LLC, the builder of the iconic muscle car.

As for the Ford Mustang, sales remain robust though for February 2009, the Challenger managed to surpass the Mustang in units sold. That unexpected event raised quite a few eyebrows, but then it has been pointed out that the next generation Mustang is just weeks away from launch, strongly suggesting that many buyers are waiting until the new model is launched to purchase their ride.

The base Camaro is powered by a 3.6L direct-injection V6, a powerplant that will produce 300 horsepower while delivering a segment leading 27 mpg on the highway. Larger engines, including a detuned version of the Corvette’s LS3 engine will also be available, giving drivers much more muscle than the standard Camaro.

The Challenger is available with a 3.5L V6, producing 250 horsepower while getting 25 mpg on the highway. Bigger and heavier than either the Mustang or the Camaro, the Dodge’s main appeal is its circa 1970s styling. The most popular V8 is its HEMI powered motor.

The current Mustang is powered by a 4.0L V6 which produces only 210 horsepower, while delivering highway mpg of 26. By far the weakest base engine of the lot, most buyers who crave power will flock to a V8.

Though the three automakers are experiencing varying degrees of financial troubles, each company’s muscle car offers a bit of sunshine amongst all of the gloom. Finally, perhaps the new models will help bring customers to Dodge, Chevy and Ford showrooms, stimulating sales across the entire model line, a needed boost in troubling times.

Author Information:

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including Chevy seats and Chevy Camaro seats.

Photo courtesy of Chrysler LLC.