Muscle Cars Are No Longer Flexing

American-built high-performance sport coupes are known for their raw power. With an electrified future in sight, can the niche sector hold on to its passionate fans?

- JUSTIN HARPER

It would be hard to live without a lot of things that America has introduced to the world. Fast food, iPhones, chocolate chip cookies, sunglasses, and so much more. However, how do we feel about muscle cars, a classic American invention well-known worldwide, at least among petrol heads?

The term “muscle cars” refers to American-built two-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high performance. Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Charger are some of the most popular in the present market. There was also the even more musclebound Dodge Viper before that. The Pontiac GTO and Firebird (made famous by the Knight Rider TV series) were also popular, though both have since been discontinued.

Dodge recently announced that it will cease production of its iconic muscle cars, the Challenger and the Charger, next year, which raised questions about the future of this niche market. While muscle cars may not be to everyone’s liking, they have a rich heritage strongly linked to the movies. For the ordinary man (or woman), they offer raw power, deafening noise, and pure escapism.