| Muscle cars are a staple part of the cultural | | | | They are designed to accommodate consumer |
| consciousness of developed North America; even | | | | concerns over fuel consumption, with even the |
| those not familiar and really not too interested in | | | | biggest V-8s mitigated in their guzzling through the |
| engines and power can't help but turn their heads | | | | latest in computer chip technology. Even more |
| when a Barracuda or a Mustang rolls by. The | | | | stunning is the fact that some of these cars are |
| combination of power and style that these cars bring | | | | designed - and are selling - not as traditional two |
| together has always appealed to North Americans, | | | | doors but as sedans and even (gasp) as |
| from the early years of muscle cars in the classic | | | | station-wagon like models. |
| 1960s right up to the present day. | | | | Some resurgent models include the 2005 Ford |
| The problem with muscle cars has always been the | | | | Mustang, which boasted an entirely new look in |
| same; people see them as impractical, both as family | | | | addition to a new chassis, and became the best |
| vehicles and in terms of economy. They have never | | | | selling Mustang model in ten years. Pontiac also rolled |
| gone out of style as far as looks, and maybe even | | | | out a new style GTO in 2003, but it was discontinued |
| desire, but they have never been able to reproduce | | | | in 2006. This has not dissuaded Chevrolet, however, |
| the sales success they enjoyed from the '60s to the | | | | as the company has announced plans to roll out a |
| '70s. | | | | new version of the Camaro in 2009, as well as |
| Given that muscle cars are known for their massive | | | | reworked G8's and a possible comeback of the GTO. |
| displacement, which traditionally has sucked up the | | | | The struggle of the American car companies is not |
| fuel, it is kind of surprising to realize that there has | | | | news. With all of them losing huge market portions to |
| been a resurgence in the manufacturing of muscle | | | | foreign car manufacturers like Toyota, Volkswagen, |
| cars by North American companies for much of the | | | | and Honda, it should come as no surprise that Detroit |
| new millennium. Ford, Chrysler, and Chevrolet have all | | | | is falling back on an old stalwart to try and remind |
| turned out new models and reworked existing | | | | North Americans why they fell in love with the |
| models in order to bring the muscle car back into the | | | | companies in the first place. Cars with traditional |
| selling mainstream. | | | | muscle appeal but designed for family and energy |
| Perhaps the resurgence of the muscle car | | | | efficiency may be the key to winning back some |
| manufacture is best described as a renaissance, for | | | | market share. |
| these are not the muscle cars our fathers knew. | | | | |