Unfortunately, the production of most of the nameplates involved in these feisty skirmishes has ended – so maybe the ones that should really feel embarrassed are the automakers, not the drivers.
2023's December will be sadly remembered as the month of chagrin and regrets as far as the American pony and muscle car enthusiasts are concerned. This is because both GM and Stellantis have allowed Ford to remain the last of the Mohicans when it comes to producing an affordable model with a V8 engine under the hood.
More precisely, that's the S650 seventh-generation 2024 Ford Mustang GT and Dark Horse that we are talking about – a model that now looks back fondly at the departing sixth-gen Chevy Camaro and L-bodied Dodge Challenger and Charger. Only the latter is slated to come back with a new generation for now – and that one will be an EV plus a six-cylinder affair. Anyway, it's best to cherish all the precious moments we can spend with the V8-powered Chevy Camaro, Dodge Charger, and Challenger, right?
As such, let us tune in with the videographer behind the Wheels channel on YouTube, who is a big fan of Bandimere Speedway and Mission Raceway Park but also loves The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway quite often. Just recently, he prepared a feature with a couple of nice Camaros, a Challenger, a Charger, and also a BMW M3.
The sixth-gen Camaros are both 6.2-liter V8 LT1 models sharing the engine with the C7 Corvette and rocking 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft (617 Nm). That doesn't compare favorably with the supercharged Dodge Challenger and Charger, or even with the notoriously underrated BMW M3, even when it doesn't come in Competition form.
However, everyone has a chance to attain glory when at the local quarter-mile dragstrip, and the inaugural Camaro LT1 (the dark green unit) indeed played its cards well – the driver was quick to react and quickly passed in front of the white Challenger Hellcat as they got past the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, at least for GM aficionados, the mighty Mopar recovered the distance and, with a superior trap speed, nailed a 13.37s versus 13.63s victory.
Next up, a crimson Camaro LT1 first lined up with a sporty-looking Dodge Charger Hellcat in a bid to bring us the much-coveted surprise. Well, this time around, the Mopar driver wasn't there for another 13-second walk in the park and nailed a low 13.06s pass against the Camaro's lesser 14.02s result. Clearly not taking a hint that maybe he or she should stay put, the Chevy then went on to brawl with the latest BMW M3, and the executive high-performance sedan promptly smoked it and maybe taught it a lesson – the underrated Bavarian is always a potential menace, hence the 11.08s versus 13.31s victory!
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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