The legendary Mustang should reign supreme in the world of muscle cars until the end of the decade. With Ford's commitment to V8 engines, this American icon continues to dominate, while its rivals Charger, Challenger and Camaro bow out.
The end of a glorious era for muscle cars
The golden age of American muscle cars, as memorable as it was, was relatively brief, beginning in 1964 and ending in 1971. The renaissance of the 2000s, marked by the return of the Dodge Charger in 2006, lasted a little bit longer. But 2024 could mark the end of this glorious era, with the disappearance of all muscular sports cars, with the notable exception of the Ford Mustang.
Dodge in fact ceased production of the Charger and Challenger after the 2023 model year, while Chevrolet sent the Camaro to the muscle car graveyard in 2024. For its part, the Mustang, produced without interruption since 1964, is still just as vigorous. Better yet for Ford, the absence of competition allows it to completely dominate the American performance segments for the rest of the decade.
The Mustang, the last representative of the traditional recipe
If the Dodge Hemi Hellcat took the spotlight in the early 2020s, the next six years belong to the Mustang. Enthusiasts won't have to settle for second-rate performance, since Ford remains faithful to the gasoline V8 and has no intention of electrifying its sports car. Two doors, four seats and eight gasoline cylinders, this is the basic recipe for a muscle car, which fans can still find in the iconic pony car.
Regulations, the gravedigger of muscle cars
Part of the reason the Mustang prevailed in the muscle car wars was due to unexpected circumstances. The discontinuation of the popular Charger and Challenger by Dodge was a shock, especially since they will be replaced by an electric vehicle. In reality, it was the federal government that killed Mopar's muscle cars, with restrictive emissions regulations.
The American Department of Transportation imposes consumption standards (CAFE) on a manufacturer's entire range. Frozen under Trump, these standards were reestablished by Biden, jeopardizing Dodge, whose large V8s prevented it from complying, under penalty of heavy fines.
The Camaro victim of sluggish sales
Chevrolet, which produces enough economical vehicles to compensate for an energy-guzzling sports car like the Camaro, nevertheless abandoned it after 2024. The reason is simple: sales of the pony car were in free fall, falling by more than 100,000 units per year in the 1980s to less than 20,000 recently. This economic reality forced the manufacturer to part with its muscle car.
Ford is banking on the future of the Mustang
The last muscle car in the running, the Mustang could rest on its laurels. But Ford has bold plans to evolve its flagship model. The launch of the seventh generation for 2024 proves the manufacturer's commitment to its sports car. Unlike its rivals, which have remained unchanged for years, the Mustang is being renewed.
Ford also remains faithful to the gasoline V8 to power its flagship. If the 325 hp EcoBoost four-cylinder is respectable, muscle cars are above all a V8 affair. While most manufacturers are abandoning eight cylinders, Ford offers two, developing between 480 and 500 hp. Something to delight purists!
The Dark Horse Mustang, queen of muscle cars
To celebrate its benchmark status, Ford launched the Dark Horse Mustang, one of the most impressive in the model's history. Under its hood, a 500 hp naturally aspirated 5.0 V8, more than double the legendary Fox Body Mustangs of the 80s. With 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 s and a 400 m standing start in 12.5 s, this new generation relegates its elders to the rank of grandmother's vehicles!
The Mustang GTD, an insane supercar
Further proof of Ford's ambitions, the brand has unveiled a totally crazy supercar version of its Mustang. With 800 hp under the hood and a top speed exceeding 300 km/h, the 2025 Mustang GTD is clearly designed for the track, although approved for the road. Its cutting-edge technologies should permeate the rest of the range, to the delight of thrill-seekers.
Any contenders for the Mustang throne?
Currently, the Ford Mustang is the only American muscle car still in production, making it the undisputed king of the coming decade. However, some models could come and play spoilsport, even if they do not represent a credible threat.
Dodge has thus announced that its electric Charger Daytona will also be available in a thermal version, the Charger Daytona SIXPACK, with a 3.0 twin-turbo six-cylinder with 550 hp. For its part, Chevrolet will resurrect the Camaro name on an electric SUV planned for 2026, whose design is strangely reminiscent of the last generation of its defunct muscle car. It remains to be seen whether a high-performance version will be on the program.
But these electrified models should not worry the Mustang, as sales of electric sports cars do not reach those of their gasoline counterparts. As for the thermal Charger Daytona, with its six cylinders and four doors, it does not meet the traditional criteria of a muscle car. The Mustang will therefore win on a technical point.
Ford is the only U.S. automaker that has never filed for bankruptcy, thanks in part to its ability to give customers the vehicles they want. This includes V8 muscle cars, a still dynamic segment that the brand dominates unchallenged. As cool today as it was 60 years ago, the Mustang is a sure value that will endure for generations. In a world in complete upheaval, this is at least a reassuring certainty for fans of American sports cars!
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