If you’ve dreamed about owning an American muscle car, well, this next generation of muscle cars may be your greatest shot. The muscle car industry is experiencing a revival thanks to the retro-inspired Ford Mustang. In fact, this Mustang has inspired GM and Chrysler. Thanks to Ford, we will be able to get our hands on the new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in the upcoming years as well as redesigned Mustang. Along with the striking appearance of these American marques will come a wave of thunderous engines. From Chevy’s popular LS3/LS7 and Ford’s heralded 4.6 and 5.4 liter engines to Dodge’s 5.7 and 6.1 liter Hemis, V-8’s will rattle the next door neighbor’s windows in the morning….but for how long?
According to some, unfortunately not very long. With the imposing new CAFE regulations drawing near, this very well may be the last time for a while we truly see modern American muscle. With a call for higher fuel economy (35 MPG standard by 2020), today’s V-8’s just won’t do unless outfitted with hybrid technology. These cars are already heavy enough as it is and developing new materials will undoubtedly raise prices. Hmm, a quiet V-8 in an American icon? Oh boy. They could argue that they can make the sound artificially, but it won’t be the same.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for improving American’s dependence on foreign oil. Once CAFE comes, I’m not gonna chain myself up to the bed of dualie pick-up truck and have someone drive me to Washington. I’ll just accept that we all have to make sacrifices for the better of others not named ourselves. It will just be sad to see a piece of American culture be stripped from us because of foreign greed and American apathy.
Filed under: Consumer Vehicles | Tagged: cafe regulation, chevrolet camaro, chevy, concept, dodge challenger, for mustang, fuel economy, hemi
