Mustang Blog - Ford Mustang News

Muscle cars make thundering return, as American Automakers were revved up at the 2006 Detroit auto show.

Brought on by the overwhelming success of the retro-styled Ford Mustang, this year’s event featured three American Muscle car legends battling it out on the stage instead of the streets. Unveiled were the reincarnations of Ford's Shelby Mustang, the Dodge Challenger and the Chevrolet Camaro.

Ford Shelby GT500

The Ford Shelby GT500 which is slated to hit showroom floors in the summer of 2006, features a 475-hp supercharged 5.4-liter, V-8 engine which breathes through a roots-type supercharger that provides 8.5 pounds of boost. The engine block is made of cast iron, while the four-valve cylinder heads, piston rings and bearings are made of aluminum. The extraordinary power is harnessed through a heavy-duty six-speed-manual transmission.

Improvements in the handling department allow the GT500 to stop and turn on a dime. The independent front suspension uses a MacPherson strut design with Reverse L lower control arms, and a solid-axle, three-link rear suspension with coil springs and a Panhard rod for precise control of the rear axle.

Keeping this wild stallion firmly planted to the ground are 18 by 9.5 inch wheels wrapped in high-performance tires. Braking is accomplished via four-piston Brembo calipers fitted to 14-inch Brembo vented rotors at the front, and 11.8-inch vented discs in the rear.

The exterior captures that flawless Shelby look with striking modifications to the front grille, bonnet and badging where the famous off-centre Cobra makes a re-appearance. Classic Le Mans-style white stripes also make a re-appearance on the coupe while they are absent on convertible as they were in the 1960’s.

The interior provides improved function by swapping the locations of the speedometer and the tachometer to provide performance-oriented drivers with a better view of shift points while changing gears. Additional lateral support has been added to the front seats to help keep the driver firmly planted during cornering. Leather interior is standard, accompanied by serpent logos on the seatbacks and steering wheel.

Dodge Challenger Concept

The Dodge Challenger Concept draws its inspiration directly from the highly-collectible 1970 model. It is powered by a 425-hp 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 linked to a manual transmission with a pistol-grip shifter.

The Challenger concept sits on a 116-inch wheelbase, giving the car a squat, tougher, more aggressive appearance. The front end features the signature Dodge crossbar grille accompanied by four deeply recessed headlamps. At the rear, there is a clean looking bumper which is flush with the body, a full-width neon-lit tail lamp and slim rectangular side marker lamps.

The hood replays the original Challenger’s "performance hood" theme with its twin diagonal scoops, now with functional butterfly-valve intakes. Designed to boast the modern techniques used in fabricating the car, what look like painted racing stripes are actually the exposed carbon fibre material of the hood. Five-spoke chrome wheels, 20-inch in the front; 21-inch in the rear, are set flush with the bodyside, giving the car a powerful muscular stance.

In contrast to the Orange Pearl exterior, the interior is modern with nods towards the past. Seats are wrapped in black leather with satin-silver highlights and thin orange bands on the seatbacks. Hefty bolsters much like those found on Dodge's famed SRT series cars provide added support. The instrumental panel pad sits high, intersected on the driver's side by a sculpted trapezoidal cluster containing three circular in-line analog gauge openings.

Chevrolet Camaro Concept

The Chevy Camaro Concept received its styling cues from the iconic first-generation 1969 Camaro. It comes equipped with a 400-hp 6.0-liter LS2 engine which features an aluminum block and heads for light weight, and Active Fuel Management, which shuts off four cylinders to save fuel when the engine is lightly loaded. Power is tapped using a six-speed manual transmission.

The Camaro Concept has a sophisticated rear-wheel drive chassis. It’s independent front and rear suspension features progressive-rate springs and gas-pressurized dampers. Commanding stopping power is achieved using four-wheel vented disc brakes with 14-inch rotors.

The exterior flaunts a serious performance car look with prominent fender shapes, front grille and hood bulge. Enhancing both the performance and appearance of the Camaro Concept are unique five-spoke cast alloy wheels, 21 inches in the front and 22 inches in the rear.

With dark leather seats highlighted by orange contrast stitching, recessed gauges, a lengthy console and a three-spoke steering wheel, the interior is reminiscent of the classic first generation Camaro’s.

Final Thoughts

Although, the Challenger and Camaro are officially only concepts, with the ever increasing popularity and strong sales of the retro-styled Mustang, there’s little doubt they will hit the streets.

With these two opponents in the offing, it looks as though the Ford Mustang has once again stirred up the competition and started another muscle car war?

If so, the Mustang is well equipped to annihilate either one and prove itself ‘King of the Road’ once again.