New Muscle Cars

By Brian Shortt

From the time that Ford introduced the first "muscle car" in 1964 in the form of the Mustang, America has been in love.

Just about everyone has a favorite classic muscle car. Yours might be the 1962 Dodge Dart 413 Max Wedge 426 Hemi, 1971 Plymouth GTX or the Australian 1976 LX Torana SS.

With the surprising power and performance that these cars offered, the Ford Mustang became the top selling car for many of the years during its "performance era." Times are different, though, and there are many factors that would seem to hinder the muscle car's popularity. High fuel prices and strict Federal regulations would seem to be a force to a harness on all that horsepower. But these horses can't be corralled and the muscle car is still a hot item, especially to the new generation. And for them, there is a new generation of muscle cars hitting the dealer lots.

Cadillac CTS-V

This high performance Cadillac makes an impressive introduction to the muscle car ring. While the Cadillac name may not exactly historically call for performance, the CTS-V delivers with power, a roomy interior and great handling. Sporting surprising 400 horses of power with a 6.0 liter V8, this baby sits you in the lap of luxury with a surprisingly low and significant performance.

Pontiac GTO

GM after too many years brought back the "Goat", much to the delight of muscle car enthusiasts. One of the original muscle cars, the GTO was introduced in 1964 and ran through the 1974 production year. Pontiac wanted to keep the awesome performance of the GTO without breaking the bank. With a 6.0 liter LS2 V8 under the hood offering 400 horses, the new breed of GTO ran from 2004 to 2006. But, this is one car that can't be held down and just has to emerge again in the future.

Infiniti G35

One of the new breed of muscle cars, the Infinity G35 offers sleek styling, superior handling and great performance. Sporting a powerful 3.5 liter V6, 306 horses strong, you get the old school muscle car style combined with the newer, technological plusses of the 21st century. With this car, performance is its strong suit. It offers great handling and a nice, "beauty meets beastly power" look and feel.

Lexus IS 350

Another luxury yet sporty number, the Lexus IS 350 offers 306 horsepower with its powerful V6. Its inventive safety designs give it an edge over some of the other muscle cars out there. While you most likely equate the Lexus name with luxury, the IS 350 shines with top performance as well.

Ford Mustang

You can't say muscle car without at least mentioning the Ford Mustang. The classic muscle car, this pony has seen some significant changes over the past few decades. The modern Mustang still will impress you with a wicked performance V8 version with 300 horses galloping under the hood in the GT version. The retro chassis will take the old timers back and inspire new enthusiasts just discovering this classic to a new love.

There are many other muscle cars that could be mentioned here and be competitive against their high performance cousins. Make an effort to study the latest muscle cars and find the performance package that makes your pulse pound. Performance, styling and handling make a muscle car, but you have to drive one to really appreciate it. - 21393

About the Author:

Brian Shortt is a car enthusiast and owner of several classic cars. His website is loaded with hundreds of Free Car Tips. Brian's Website is jammed packed with tips and techniques for the car enthusiast.