Even from the time that Ford showed the way with the first “muscle car” in 1964 in the form of the Mustang, America has been in love.

Pretty well everyone has a favorite classic muscle car. Yours might be the 1963 Dodge Dart 413 Max Wedge 426 Hemi, 1967 Dodge Charger or the Australian 1972 XA Falcon Phase IV GTHO 4 door.

With the incredible performance and power that these cars offered, the Ford Mustang became the top selling car for many of the years during its “performance era.” Times are different, though, and there are many factors that would seem to decrease the muscle car’s popularity. High fuel prices and strict Federal regulations would seem to be likely culprits in putting a harness on all that horsepower. But these horses can’t be corralled and the muscle car remains a steady seller, especially to the new generation. And for them, there is a new generation of muscle cars hitting the dealer lots.

Cadillac CTS-V

This high performance Cadillac makes an impressive introduction to the muscle car ring. While Cadillac may not exactly historically call for performance, the CTS-V delivers with superior handling, a comfortable and roomy interior as well as significant power. Showing off its impressive 400 horses of power with a 6.0 liter V8 and 395 pound feet of torque, this powerhouse sits you in they type of car you would expect from Cadillac with a surprisingly low and very pleasing performance.

Pontiac GTO

GM after too many years brought back the “Goat”, much to the delight of muscle car enthusiasts. One of the original muscle cars, the GTO was introduced in 1964 and ran through the 1974 production year. Pontiac wanted to keep the awesome power and performance of the GTO without without a sky high price. With a 6.0 liter LS2 V8 offering 400 horses, the new breed of GTO ran from 2004 to 2006. But, this is one car that can’t be held down and we can only hope that it will emerge again in the future.

Infiniti G35

A good example of the new breed muscle cars, the Infinity G35 offers high end performance, great handling and a great look. Sporting a powerful 3.5 liter V6, 306 horses strong, you will be driving the old school muscle car style combined with the newer, technological plusses of the 21st century. With this car, performance is its strong suit. It offers great handling and a superior, “beauty meets beastly power” look and feel.

Lexus IS 350

Another sprightly muscle car with high performance, the Lexus IS 350 offers 306 horsepower with its powerful V6. Its inventive safety designs give it an edge over some of the other muscle cars out there. While you probably equate the Lexus name with luxury, the IS 350 shines with top performance as well.

Ford Mustang

You can’t say muscle car without thinking about the Ford Mustang. The classic muscle car, this pony with horsepower has seen some significant design changes over the past twenty years. The latest Mustang, though, still will impress you with a wicked performance V8 version with 300 horses galloping under the hood in the GT version. The retro chassis will take the old timers back and spark an interest in new enthusiasts just discovering this classic to a new love.

There are many other muscle cars that could easily make this list and be competitive against their high performance cousins. Take some time to test drive a few of the latest muscle cars and find the performance package that speaks to you. Performance, design and power make a muscle car, but you need one in your garage to really appreciate it.
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