Yardbird
Senior Member
Not Chevy, not Dodge: the muscle car that holds true to its roots
Story by Ignacio Gregoroff3 min read
The "muscle cars", as they have been called since the mid-60s and until the early 70s, have made a new comeback in recent times by their creators. These are Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Dodge, the main referents of this selected group of muscle cars known for their big engines and unique styling.
Although there has been a resurgence, history is repeating itself and there is a strong tendency towards their disappearance, or at least for how they were known in their beginnings. The reason? It will be more and more difficult to find one of these examples of a V8 or V6 powered by a combustion engine, or other electric-free inline variants.
After the latest announcements from several brands now identified with today's "muscle cars", it can be said that Ford is the only one that has not electrified its "pony cars". Although its EV version is available with the Ford Mustang Mach-E, it has just renewed the seventh generation of the Ford Mustang, adding four new members with combustion engines. The Mustang GTD is scheduled for late 2024 and early 2025.
Dodge's Departing Challengers: Ford Mustang's Rivals on the Decline
As confirmed by Tork News, by tradition, the current rivals of the Ford Mustang are the Dodge Challenger or Charger and the Chevrolet Camaro, which will disappear. The models currently owned by the Stellantis Group brand were presented with an electric propulsion system. Their CEO, Tim Kuniskis, announced the end of these cars as they were known through an official statement.
"For enthusiasts looking to order a Dodge Challenger or Charger, especially a high-powered model such as the Scat Pack, SRT Hellcat, or a special edition model, it's really the last call for the 'Last Call'.
"As we transition to an exciting electrified muscle car future, we are now marking the end of an unforgettable era for Dodge, and the clock is ticking for those who want to own a piece," - Kuniskis said.
On the GM side, a month before Dodge, Chevrolet Performance launched the Chevrolet Camaro Collector's Edition. This model retakes the foundations of the first-generation Camaro and is presented with aesthetic improvements from the "Phanter" project. Loaded with styling enhancements, dark bodywork, and a number of sporty components, it is the latest version that muscle car enthusiasts will be able to purchase.
Said Rich Scheer, Chevrolet Performance design director.“We consider it appropriate that this collector's edition of the Camaro officially recognizes the importance of the original code name and shares it with enthusiasts of the model. Of course, the Panther name influenced the colors used, Panther Black Metallic for the SS and stunning Panther Matte Black for the ZL1,”
One of the most legendary cars in the United States, the Chevrolet Camaro, has sold more than 350,000 models until 2022. The sixth-generation Camaro will be withdrawn from the market at the end of the year 2024, as announced by the brand through an official note.
The era of electrification is here to stay, and muscle cars have not escaped the implicit or, rather, evident rule to be the beginning of the transformation to a different car era. With CO2 emissions reduction as a key issue, brands have begun to adapt to the new requirements of political leaders.
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