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.

Just about everyone has a favorite classic muscle car. Yours might be the 1965 Dodge Dart 413 Max Wedge 426 Hemi, 1966 Plymouth intermediate with 426 Hemi, 1968 Plymouth Road Runner, 1970 AMC Rebel, 1969 Dodge Coronet or the Australian 1973 LJ Torana GTR XU-1.

With the on demand performance that these cars offered, the Ford Mustang became the top selling car for many of the years during its “performance era.” Times have changed, though, and there are many factors that would seem to reduce the muscle car’s popularity. Government regulation and high fuel prices would seem to cause a thumbs down 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 the Cadillac name may not exactly be synonymous with performance, the CTS-V delivers with power, a roomy interior and great handling. Sporting surprising 400 horses of power with a 6.0 liter V8, this ride sits you in a stylish car with a lower price tag and great performance.

Pontiac GTO

GM after too long a wait 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. Gm was hoping to keep the awesome performance and power of the GTO without making you sell your house. With a 6.0 liter LS2 V8 rumbling under the hood 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

Typical of the new breed muscle cars, the Infinity G35 offers sleek styling, great performance and top notch handling. Sporting a powerful 3.5 liter V6, 306 horses strong, the Infiniti G35 give you 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, “the power and the glory” look and feel.

Lexus IS 350

Another sprightly muscle car with high performance, the Lexus IS 350 offers a powerful V6 with 306 horsepower. Its inventive safety designs give it an edge over some of the other muscle cars out there. While you correctly 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 original muscle car, this pony with horsepower has seen some significant changes over the past several decades. The latest Mustang, though, still packs a powerful punch 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 inspire new enthusiasts just discovering this classic to a new love.

There are many other muscle cars that could fit on this list and stack up just fine against their high performance cousins. Take some time to see what is available in the next wave of muscle cars and find the performance package that makes your pulse pound. Performance, styling and handling make a muscle car, but you have to drive one to really appreciate it.

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