Forget hybrids, forget crossover SUVs – the hot news out of Detroit is the return of the muscle car.
At the North American International Auto Show, Chevrolet and Chrysler unveiled two cars with legendary names – Camaro and Challenger.
Although only “concept’’ cars for now, there’s little doubt that both cars will find their way into dealer showrooms sometime in the next three years.
Chevrolet’s new Camaro returns after the production model was withdrawn in 2002. It has been three decades since Chrysler’s Dodge Challenger was available as a sporty muscle car.
But the wild success of the redesigned Ford Mustang – the original “pony car’’ and the only survivor of that genre -- has provided the impetus for the return of Camaro and Challenger.
Interestingly, Chevrolet and Chrysler took two decidedly different approaches to the design of these two vehicles.
On the Camaro, there are very few visual cues to remind buyers of classic Camaros, even though Chevrolet says that the 1969 Camaro was the inspiration. The car that was unveiled in Detroit owes more of its styling inspiration to some current Cadillac designs.
That said, however, the Camaro concept appears to be an exciting design that could redefine the pony car formula while retaining the basic big-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform.
Chrysler took its Challenger heritage more seriously.
Although the concept car is very modern in appearance, it retains much of the overall shape of the original 1970 Challenger.
With working induction vents in the hood and the current Hemi V8 under the hood, there’s a lot to like about the Challenger.
Obviously, no prices are being discussed – nor even an admission that these two cars will in fact be put into production. But if they can be brought to market in base, six-cylinder form for less than $20,000, and in full high-performance dress for about $30,000, they will be hugely popular.
