American Sports Cars are well known for their muscles. These metal beasts are as beautiful as powerful, carrying the true spirit of America on their wings. Check out Carrrs.com editors’ picks of the best modern U.S. muscle cars.
Ford Focus ST
2016 Ford Focus ST © Ford Motor Company
Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $24,425
The 2016 Ford Focus ST is ready for another year of spirited driving and great performance value. Its tenacious suspension with sporty spring and shock absorber tuning, electric power-assisted steering, gutsy 2.0-liter turbocharged 252-horsepower EcoBoost® engine and six-speed manual transmission deliver sharp, dynamic performance.
“Since its debut, Focus ST has been bringing our fun-to-drive DNA to the hot hatch segment with a uniquely Ford blend of driving dynamics, performance and style,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development.
Focus ST features two new color offerings for 2016 – Shadow Black and Kona Blue.
New SYNC® 3 enhanced voice recognition technology featuring high-speed performance is available for Focus ST. The system includes a capacitive 8-inch center LCD touch screen with AppLink™ and 911 Assist®, swipe, and available pinch-to-zoom navigation capabilities. Standard for 2016 are smart charging USB ports for families on the go with energy-hungry devices. Charging time is more than twice as fast as previous versions.
Dodge Charger
2016 Dodge Charger © Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $27,995
For 2016, the Dodge Charger lineup offers extensive performance-driven powertrains – the latest technology under the hood and behind the wheel – which builds on the brand’s promise to deliver American performance machines with world-class power, efficiency, technology, authentic materials and standout styling.
The FCA US LLC TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on every Dodge Charger model, everything from the SE, SXT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack and SRT 392 to the SRT Hellcat. The 2016 Charger also offers a full range of fuel-efficient and powerful engine options, including the award-winning 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine, which delivers up to 31 miles per gallon (mpg) on SE and SXT models; the legendary 370-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 on the R/T; the 6.4-liter HEMI V-8, which punches out a best-in-class, naturally aspirated 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque in the SRT 392 and R/T Scat Pack models and the 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine. The Charger Hellcat delivers the ultimate performance with 707 horsepower, 650 lb.-ft. of torque, a top speed of 204 miles per hour (mph), National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)-certified, quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.0 seconds on street tires and does 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds – making it the quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan in the world.
Ford Mustang
2016 Mustang GT Convertible © Ford Motor Company
Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $29,645
Ford Mustang customers will continue to enjoy the pony car’s aggressive styling, refined chassis, and range of powerful engines including the 3.7-liter V6, 2.3-liter EcoBoost® and 5.0-liter V8, but new options and standard equipment added for 2016 make it even better.
Fans have been clamoring for the return of hood vent-integrated turn signals for years, and in a nod to heritage Ford is honoring the request, bringing back the popular feature as standard equipment for owners of the 2016 Mustang GT.
New for 2016 are several packages to enhance the look of Mustang. Black Accent Package, California Special and Pony Package each add a unique flair to Mustang.
To customize the look of Mustang, buyers can now opt for a painted black roof available on EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT and GT Premium fastback models, as well as over-the-top racing stripes for both the fastback and convertible.
Chevrolet Camaro
2016 Chevrolet Camaro © General Motors
Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $25,700
The Gen Six Camaro provides a faster, more nimble driving experience, enabled by an all-new, lighter architecture and a broader powertrain range. Six all-new powertrain combinations are offered, including a 2.0L Turbo, an all-new 3.6L V-6 and the LT1 6.2L V-8, which is SAE-certified at 455 horsepower (339 kW) and 455 lb-ft of torque (617 Nm) – for the most powerful Camaro SS ever. Each engine is available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.
Camaro’s leaner, stiffer platform and slightly smaller dimensions are accentuated by a dramatic, sculpted exterior. Meticulously tuned in the wind tunnel, the exterior contributes to performance through reduced aerodynamic lift for better handling while enhancing efficiency.
A driver-focused interior integrates class-leading control technologies, including a new Driver Mode Selector, configurable instrument cluster and a customizable ambient lighting feature.
Only two parts carry over from the fifth-generation Camaro to the new Gen Six: the rear bowtie emblem and the SS badge.
Dodge Challenger
2016 Dodge Challenger © Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $26,995
Dodge is reaching back into its rich history and broad range of heritage colors. New again for the 2016 model year, Plum Crazy joins heritage and high-impact exterior colors range from B5 Blue to TorRed.
Seven different stripe options give Challenger drivers the ability to get instant customization straight from the factory.
Inspired by the iconic 1971 Challenger, all 2016 models take on a bold appearance that draws on the 1971 model’s split-grille and split tail-lamp cues, updated with four signature LED headlamp halo surrounds offset by piano black trim. Single projector-beam headlamps at each front corner light the road ahead. High-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps are also available.
In profile, the 2016 Challenger’s signature muscle car proportions and large thruster rear-quarter panels stand out from the crowd, while fender and belt lines tie together at the front and rear of the car to create a sleeker appearance. Twelve wheel designs are available, including a new for 2016 Hyper Black II finish to the lightweight forged-aluminum wheels.
A split tail-lamp design continues the historic 1971 model’s inspiration. For a modern look, the Dodge brand’s signature LED treatment creates a single ribbon of light within each lamp. A redesigned rear valance gives the 2016 Challenger with a widened, more planted appearance, while fascia-mounted exhaust tips provide a high-performance finished look.
Cadillac CTS-V
2016 Cadillac CTS-V © General Motors
Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $83,995
The 2016 CTS-V is the centerpiece of Cadillac’s growing product line, building on the V-Series legacy and leveraging the strength of the award-winning CTS architecture to deliver the most capable V-Series ever – a luxury sedan with sophisticated road manners and unprecedented performance, with true track capability straight from the factory.
It is the third generation of the acclaimed luxury sports sedan that launched the brand’s elite V-Series a decade ago – and redefined Cadillac for a new generation of drivers.
The 2016 CTS-V introduces a new supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine SAE certified at 640 horsepower (477 kW) and 630 lb-ft of torque (855 Nm). It’s backed by Cadillac’s paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission featuring launch control and Performance Algorithm Shifting.
With more horsepower and torque than the Mercedes-Benz 5.5L biturbo V-8 and the BMW M-series 4.4L TwinPower (twin-turbo) V-8, the new CTS-V is capable of 0-60 performance in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph.
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT © Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $65,495
The best performing on-road Jeep vehicle ever returns for 2016 with its proven and powerful 6.4-liter V-8 with Fuel Saver Technology that delivers 475 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. Performance includes 0-60 mph acceleration in 4.8 seconds, 0-100-0 mph in 16.3 seconds, quarter mile in the mid-13 second range and a top speed of 160 mph.
New inside the 2016 Grand Cherokee SRT is a revised instrument panel gauge cluster that takes on a more enhanced and high-performance look. The 7-inch reconfigurable digital display now features the tachometer shown in the middle similar to other high performance SRT vehicles, while the 180-mph speedometer moves to the left side of the cluster.
SRT-exclusive Performance Pages are revised for 2016 with an expanded array of performance timers and gauge readouts, while all-new drive modes allow Grand Cherokee SRT owners the ability to personalize their drive experience whether its on-road or on-track.
The drive modes separately control the all-wheel drive system, transmission, paddle shifters, stability control, suspension and steering. Drive modes are pre-configured for Auto, Sport, Track, Snow and Tow settings via a mode select switch on the center console, while the Custom setting lets the driver customize the drive experience to their favorite settings.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 © General Motors
Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $79,400
When the Z06 rejoined the Corvette lineup in 2015 as the most capable model in the car’s long, storied history, it also joined an elite fraternity of the world’s most capable supercars. It returns for 2016, offering more choices for personalization to complement its world-class levels of performance – including an all-new C7.R Edition.
The C7.R Edition pays tribute to the Corvette Racing C7.R racecars. It’s offered in Corvette Racing’s signature yellow livery – or black – with coordinated exterior and interior accents. Only 500 will be built, all with the Z07 Performance Package with carbon ceramic brakes, and a specially serialized vehicle identification number.
Additionally, three all-new color-themed design packages – Twilight Blue, Spice Red and Jet Black Suede – offer custom-tailored appearances that elevate the Z06’s presence on the street or track, while features such as an available front parking camera and power-cinching latch for the coupe’s hatchback or convertible’s trunk enhance convenience – and add an extra measure protection.
New smartphone projection technology on Corvette Z06’s MyLink system displays content from Apple iPhone 5 or later models on the multicolor screen through the Apple CarPlay feature. Supported apps for the system include phone, messages, maps, music and compatible third-party apps.
