Modern Muscle Cars For The 21st Century

First in our line-up of Modern Muscle Cars is the Ford Mustang GT. Ford truly had a better idea when they went retro with the Mustang in 2005. This Modern Muscle Car not only looks great, but has some guts too. The standard mill is a 4.6L (281 cubic inch) SOHC (Single Over-Head Cam) aluminum bock V8 with cast aluminum heads, 9.8:1 compression, and features a hydraulic cam with roller finger followers, sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection, producing 300 horsepower at 5750 rpm and 320 foot-pounds of torque on Unleaded Regular gas. Other standard features are dual stainless steel exhausts, a heavy-duty TR3650 Tremec 5-speed manual transmission (or an optional 5-speed automatic is available), power rack-and-pinion steering, MacPherson strut front suspension and a rear axle design that includes a Panhard rod and three-link architecture.

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The Shelby GT500 is the real Modern Muscle Car though. The 2008 models are equiped with a 540 horsepower, supercharged 5.4L DOHC (dual over-head cam) V8, with a multi-point injection fuel system producing a max torque of 510 lb-ft at 6000 rpm. Unlike the standard Mustang GT, premium unleaded fuel is required. The '08 Shelbys feature a new cold-air inlet system isolated at the front of the engine bay under an elaborate new carbon-fiber hood, and revised engine-control calibrations. Standard features for the Shelby include MacPherson strut independent front suspension, solid axle rear suspension, 18" alloy wheels, performance tires, rear spoiler, front and rear ventilated disc brakes, and traction control.

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The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and rear-axle ratio of 3.73:1, and the combination produces sprints to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and quarter-mile times of 12.1 seconds. There’s plenty of torque at low revs, and thus no real need to rev the engine hard for brisk progress. But when you do dig for all the power, the tach flicks quickly to the 6250-rpm red line, and you’re into the rev limiter before you know it. In higher gears that broad band of power thrusts the car for long, sustained stretches, and it gains speed with an ease that speaks of 540 horses. These Shelbys are truly awe inspiring, but be prepared to shell out about $59,000 to get your hands on one.

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There is talk that Shelby Automobiles will use newly-developed Ford Racing GT500 performance packs to help transform a limited number of '08 Shelby GT500’s into fire breathing “Super Snake” coupes. The Super Snake post-title package will include enhancements to the Ford Shelby GT500’s handling, styling and power; tuning options will range from a warranted 600 HP V8 to over 725 HP (unwarranted). Only a limited number of Super Snakes will be built.

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But, its saving grace is its powerplant and is what qualifies this version of the Charger as a Modern Muscle Car. The R/T package includes a 5.7 Liter (345 Cubic Inch), multi-displacement HEMI V8, mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission with Autostick. These engines feature hydraulic roller lifters, a 7 quart oil system, a sequential, multi-port, electronic, returnless fuel injection system, a deep-skirt cast iron block with cross-bolted main bearing caps, aluminum alloy heads with hemispherical combustion chambers with a compression ratio of 9.6:1, producing 345 horsepower at 5400 rpm, and 375 lb.-ft. of torque at 4200 rpm. Not bad for a small-block!

Charger SRT8 features include: 18" x 7.5" aluminum wheels, P225/60R18 BSW touring tires, all-speed traction control and performance exhausts. Other option packages are the R/T Daytona Edition and the SRT8 Super Bee.

The 2008 Charger SRT8 is the lates addition to Mopar's Modern Muscle Cars and features a 6.1L (370 CID) SRT HEMI V8, mated to a high-performance W5A580 5-speed AutoStick electronic range select transmission. These big-block HEMIs feature pushrod-operated overhead valves, 16 valves in all, conventional hydraulic lifters, all with roller followers, a sequential, multi-port, electronic, returnless fuel Injection system, a deep-skirt cast-iron block with cross-bolted main bearing caps, 7 quart oil system, aluminum alloy heads with hemispherical combustion chambers and a compression Ratio of 10.3:1, putting out 425 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm.

These Modern Muscle Cars from Dodge feature an Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which combines the ABS brakes, all-speed traction control and a stability system that determines when to apply the brakes to one or more wheels, and when to reduce engine torque in critical driving situations. The SRT8 has a 3.06 Axle Ratio, 20" x 9.0" ultra-bright aluminum SRT design wheels, 245/45ZR20 all season performance tires, anti-Lock 4-wheel disc performance brakes and a high-performance suspension at a base price of about 40 Grand.

Imagine all the goodies of an SRT8 package in this Modern Muscle Car! The Chrysler execs made a huge blunder when they shelved this design in favor of what they have now, though there is still hope on my part that they will come to their senses.

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The Challenger is dressed with 20" x 9.0" forged aluminum SRT design wheels with 245/45ZR20 all season skins. On the inside there are premium leather trim bucket seats with Hemi-Orange accents featuring power 8-Way driver seat and manual driver and passenger lumbar adjust, and a 60/40 folding rear seat. The instrument panel has high-performance written all over it with a tach and 180 mph primary speedometer. Tunes are carried through a AM/FM 6-Disc DVD MP3 receiver with a 13-speaker Kicker SRT high-performance audio system featuring a 200-Watt Kicker SRT subwoofer and 322-Watt Kicker SRT amplifier. The base on this Modern Mucle Car is Forty Grand, but rumor has it buyers are paying up to ten-grand over sticker to get their hands on one.

More of a Modern Road Racer than a Modern Muscle Car the 2008 Viper SRT10 will carry a price tag of about eighty-eight grand.

The new 8.4L (510 cubic inch) A356 T6 aluminum block V10 motor now achieves 600 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 560 lb-ft of torque at 5100 rpm and that's what makes the Viper a Modern Muscle Car. An assembled steel articulating Cam-In-Cam camshaft, that allows variable exhaust valve timing, along with the new VENOM engine controller, with massive processing power, provides the necessary technology to achieve these very high output levels and still meet idle and OBD requirements.

Other new features for the V10 include new cylinder heads with larger valves, CNC chambers and throats, flat top piston with 10.2:1 compression ratio, race tested swinging oil pickup from the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, dual electronic throttle bodies (ETC), low restriction induction system with dual mass airflow control (MAF), air-gap headers and a low restriction exhaust system, individual high energy coils for each cylinder, and platinum tip spark plugs.

The Viper's new six-speed Tremec TR6060 manual transmission is an evolution of the previous generation's unit with 10% wider gears for higher torque capacity, a strengthened front cover casting with a larger input shaft bearing, a larger output shaft slip yoke and an enhanced shift-system including a new synchronizer package with a triple cone 1-2 shift and a double cone 3-6 shifts (the previous T56 6 speed had double cone 1-2, single cone 3-6) and reduced friction and reduced shift travel to enhance engagement feel. Paired with the new transmission is an exotic, smaller diameter low inertia twin-disc clutch and flywheel assembly with an 18% reduction in rotating inertia that reduces the clutch pedal efforts and improves drivability.

Exterior features for this Modern Muscle Car include 18" x 10" and 19" x 13" Forged Polished "5 Spoke" wheels, 275/35ZR18 and 345/30ZR19 BSW tires and a dual side exhaust. Inside the wrap around, race inspired seats keep you firmly bolstered when cornering and provide a pass through in the seat back in case you want to add a racing harness. The sound system employs 7 Speakers with Subwoofer and Tweeters with a 310-Watt Amplifier. The instrument cluster includes a tach and 220-mph speedometer.

The LS7 engine has a compression ratio of 11.0:1 and contains a litany of racing-derived components, such as an 8 quart dry-sump oil system, sequential EFI induction system, titanium valves and connecting rods, forged-steel crank with six-bolt main bearings, a high-profile cam and hydraulic lifters, and CNC machined aluminum heads for better air/fuel flow. In the Z06's 3,162-pound package, the LS7 engine helps deliver 0-60 mph performance of 3.7 seconds in first gear, quarter-mile times of 11.7 seconds at 125 mph and a top speed of 198 mph (as recorded on Germany's Autobahn).

This potent Modern Muscle Car achieves a power-to-weight ratio (6.3), superior to many exotic cars like Ferrari F430 and Porsche GT3 RS, in part because of its lightweight yet strong aluminum frame combined with a magnesium roof structure and engine cradle. The aluminum body structure weighs only 278 pounds, 136 pounds less than the Corvette coupe. The structure includes full-length aluminum hydroformed rails to provide exceptional strength and dimensional accuracy. Carbon-fiber front fenders, wheel-housings and floorboards (with balsa core) are also employed.

The Z06 features a custom two-tone leather-wrapped interior package, an instrument cluster that is backlit by LEDs with readouts for speed, engine rpm, fuel, oil pressure and engine coolant temperature. Outside the Z06 sports ten-spoke painted aluminum wheels in sizes 18" x 9.5" in front and 19" x 12" for the rear. The wheels are mounted to the widest standard tires ever offered on a Vette, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar Extended Mobility Tires (EMT) in sizes 275/35ZR-18 in front and 325/30ZR-19 for the rear.

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If you like crisp, fast shifting, you'll love the short-throw six-speed manual tranny that's standard in all models of this Modern Muscle Car. The shifter itself is designed to be an extension of your hand. Because the transmission is located in the rear of the car and is connected to the engine by means of a transaxle and torque tube, Corvette achieves a near 50/50 weight distribution for better overall performance. The rear axle has a 3.42 ratio with limited-slip.

For 2008 Chevy is offering a Corvette 427 Limited Edition Z06. The special edition C6 comes with with Crystal Red Tintcoat, new exclusive wheels, a titanium-colored leather interior, 427-embroidered seats and floor mats, Z06 sill plates and "427" badges and graphics adorning the exterior.

Chevy will only build 427 of the special edition Modern Muscle Cars for the North American market and another 78 for everyone else, for a total run of only 505, equal to its horsepower rating. Buyers will have to come up with about eighty-four grand to park one in their garage!

Camaro comes in three trim levels: LS, LT, and high-performance SS. Two engines are available--a V6 and a V8. The V6 is a 3.6-liter unit that produces 300 hp. It's available on LS and LT. SS versions with a manual transmission get a 422 horsepower 6.2L V8. Automatic-equipped SS models also get a 6.2L motor, but it makes 400 horse and features GM's Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation. V6 versions also offer a manual or automatic transmissions.

The Camaro SS of this much anticipated Modern Muscle Car will feature the 420 horsepower 6.0L 6000 LS3 V8, duel exhaust, a six-speed manual transmission, SS hood with scoop, SS front and rear fascia, SS grille, SS Spoiler, 18 x 8.5-inch front and rear, five-spoke, silver-painted, aluminum wheels mounted by P245/40ZR-18 tires, and a limited-slip third member.

A premium option package will be offered to include automatic power Leather seating with heated 6-way power driver seat and front passenger and Head-Up Display with on-board computer. Also a Performance option Package featuring leather seating with 6-way power driver seat, Bose Monsoon Premium sound system, an automatic transmission, 18 x 8.5-inch front and rear, five-spoke, polished, aluminum wheels, a convertible top, a performance handling suspension with stiffer springs, stabilizer bars, performance axle ratio, and chrome tail pipes.

A limited production Z28 Camaro will also be in the lineup of Chevy's Modern Muscle Cars, featuring the 525 horse Supercharged 6.0L 6000 LS9 V8, a six-speed manual transmission, Limited-slip differential, performance handling suspension with stiffer springs, stabilizer bars, performance axle ratio, special Z28 exhaust outlets, polished, four-inch stainless-steel tips, 18 x 9.5-inch front and rear, five-spoke, silver-painted, aluminum wheels, P275/40ZR-19 front and P295/40ZR-19 rear tires, Z28 hood with scoop, Z28 front and rear fascia, Z28 Spoiler, and Z28 grille.

The 5.7L LS1 introduced leading-edge technologies to the grand tradition of the GM small-block V8, including all-aluminum construction, a thermoplastic intake manifold. Measured by mass, package size, performance or cost to the customer, the 5.7L LS1 matched the world’s best overhead cam V8s. Formula and Trans Am drivers got 310 horsepower, while Trans Am drivers opting for Ram Air would enjoy 325 horsepower. Available transmissions for the LS1 included a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic tranny.

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