When it comes to trends, SUVs are in fashion now. Gas is (relatively) cheap, so buyers want to grow; moreover, hybrid engines are better than ever, and even the mighty Mustang has become the Mustang family with the steaming Mach-e.
The Mustang has a lot of history behind it; O’Stang has been around for more than five decades. Sales are mainly concentrated in North America, and the numbers are healthy so far. Starting at just over $ 28,000, the classic Blue Oval muscle car has not yet been sent to the big junkyard in the sky. A quick look at Ford.com reveals the hierarchy of its vehicles: starting from the left: SUVs and crossovers are listed first, then trucks and vans and then electrified vehicles. The cars category brings the rear.
Ford still has two sedans on the line, and soon there will be only one standing; Fusion is on track to be relaunched as a crossover in 2022. What that means for Mustang is yet to be seen, but I’m wondering if Mach-e is a gentle harbinger of what the future will look like for the muscle car. Perhaps the brand will pull a Disney and leave it shelved for a while and then launch a special edition of the Mustang in limited quantities. Don’t start any rumors, however; I’m just reading the tea leaves right now. For me, driving a Mustang is still an emotion, especially as a convertible.
The second of the big three, Chevrolet, shook the cobwebs on the Stingray with the new mid-engined Corvette, and the automotive world buzzed with excitement. Overall, the 2021 Corvette Stingray was met with accolades and absolute prominence; I drove one a few weeks ago and joined the club. Involved in Elkhart Lake Blue, 2021 drew attention at all traffic lights and for good reason: the lines are beautiful. It’s the closest you can get to a supercar, but without the supercar’s price tag, and the value is delightfully attractive. There is currently no replacement for the Corvette; at least, until all generations of fans disappear. If it continues to evolve and improve, Stingray is not going anywhere.
Completing the trifecta of American automotive companies, Dodge has enforced its claim for high-performance vehicles. By narrowing its focus to big, noisy engines and revealing itself without apology in gas-powered beasts, Dodge is showing no sign of retreating outside. However, when I interviewed Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis in August, he said cars are not dead, basic products are. For now, Dodge is putting its money into cars and SUVs that declare their presence with an unmistakable roar. The Super Stock and Redeye versions of the Challenger challenge drivers to mark them and still delight those of us who are more enthusiastic about the energy of the past than an electric groan.
Kuniskis is keeping the door open for changes, however, and he told me that as soon as the cost of electric motors drops, the battery-powered muscle car market will explode.
“That’s when hot rodders grab electrification,” he said. “They will readjust performance and it will be like when the industry switched to fuel injection from a carburetor. People will want electrification because it will be the most competitive car out there. I am super excited about the future; it is not just that it will be different. It will be better than anything we’ve ever seen. “
What’s showing your crystal ball?
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