The Muscle Car War Heats Up
The 2011 Ford Mustang is a whole new breed of horse. While the big news is that the 5.0-liter V8 has finally returned to the Blue Oval, the company has also sharpened its V6 considerably, producing more horsepower and better fuel economy from the same six-cylinder found in the car’s closest rival -- the Chevrolet Camaro. It’s a smart move on Ford’s part, especially considering the company is likely to move quite a bit more base Mustangs than the well-dressed GT versions.
Ford ups the ante and GM, Chrysler can't be far behind
Judging by data gathered by Motor Trend, General Motors should be worried about the performance of the 2010 Camaro V6 compared to that of the 2011 Mustang V6. While Ford’s new champ delivers just a single horsepower more (305) than the Camaro, it’s half-second quicker to 60 mph -- and maintains that lead all the way down the quarter mile. Even more surprising, the V6 Mustang performed better on the skid pad, braking test and slalom compared to its rival from Chevrolet.
So what can GM do to step up its game? For starters, it can put the Camaro on a serious diet. The big two-door comes in 282 lbs heavier than Ford’s bruiser, and that extra weight shows up in nearly all of the Camaro’s performance figures in one way or another. While a little more power never hurt anyone, the 3.6-liter V6 is already a stout performer. If GM really wants to see the Camaro dot the Mustang’s eye, the company is going to need to send its new star to fat camp.
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