Sports cars are rarely subject to independent crash tests: as a rule, mass passenger cars are subjected to such tests. However, last year the American "big three" sold about 250,000 of their pony cars, with demand growing by more than 70% in the last six years! And given that these models are often bought with powerful motors(in this case, the term Muscle Car is used), then the issue of safety is acute. Indeed, according to studies, the higher the power of the car, the more its driver is inclined to violate road rules. Therefore, for the next series of crash tests at the American Insurance Institute road safety(IIHS) chose three classic pony cars: the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang. All with V8 engines, but not in the most extreme power versions, which are sold, as a rule, with additionally reinforced bodies. The test program, in addition to standard crash tests, included a small overlap impact (25%), ratings preventive security and the convenience of installing child seats.
The results are not impressive: none of the cars was rated as absolutely safe (in this case, the IIHS issues a Top Safety Pick certificate to the model). Only the frontal crash test with standard overlap (40%) and side impact were excellent. Only the Chevrolet Camaro exemplarily passed the small overlap test. newest generation which has been in production since last year. The 2014 Ford Mustang earned a “satisfactory” rating in this test: the floor at the driver’s feet moved into the passenger compartment by 17 cm, and the front panel by 14–16 cm. This threatens to injure the driver’s left leg, but his head is safe thanks to reliable front and side airbags.
But the dummy driving the Dodge Challenger coupe had a much worse time: after a small overlap impact, its left leg had to be unscrewed by specialists in order to remove it from the trap formed by the resting area for the left leg that had shifted inward by 42 cm. This has only happened to five cars in the history of IIHS crash testing, and real driver serious injury is guaranteed in such an accident! Moreover, these injuries are most typical in frontal collisions with a pole, tree or other vehicle.
Dodge Challenger
And yet, the overall assessment of Dodge is not the lowest Poor (bad), but only Marginal (at the limit of tolerance). But only thanks to the good protection of the head, chest and thighs of the driver. And the power structure of the body and the protection of the legs below the knee are rated as useless. The Americans also rated the Dodge as “satisfactory” in a rear impact, for the strength of the body during a rollover, and even for attaching child seats: the locks are hard to reach and require a lot of effort to install.
Ford Mustang performed well: the only puncture with the installation of child seats. But the Chevrolet Camaro coupe also let us down with the coefficient of body strength, which expresses the ratio of the force of moving the roof rib by five inches (127 cm) to the curb weight of the car. For Chevrolet, this value is 3.7, and for the highest rating, the coefficient must be at least 4.0 (for Dodge - 3.67, and for Ford - 4.43). The rigidity of the body for muscle cars is doubly important, because, according to statistics, they are characterized by rollover accidents.
As a result, the new Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro turned out to be quite safe cars. But you can’t say the same about the Dodge Challenger. It is curious that in recent years the products of the FCA concern also ended up in last place. Most likely, the fact is that both the Dodge Challenger and the Ram appeared relatively long ago: the coupe has been produced since 2008, and the pickups since 2009. However, engineers have something to think about when designing new generations of these machines.
The three most important muscle cars will come together to sort things out once and for allShe goes in first, ahead of him, flashing her 1980s single-lens glasses that hide the tan of a man who smokes two packs a day, and (it's not polite to say this) huge tits. He speaks first in order to quickly find out who this stranger with a puffy face and in a stupid hat is. “They did a good job on that Camaro. This is a 2010 model, right? Yes, we've done some work, I answer, and I start a conversation that I hope will explain not only the hat, but also what the Brit is actually doing here in this godforsaken area. I'm high above Palm Springs with a still-so-new-too-impossible-to-get 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, an almost-same-new-but-not-so-rare Shelby GT500 Mustang and no longer- brand-new-but-still-attention-grabbing Dodge Challenger.
While I'm talking about muscle cars with my new friend, I can see the woman trying to figure out how to get to the line I just realized she wants to get to. Walking vacantly through the store, she chooses the counter where I pay for my lunch, turning carefully so I can see her charms before she does arrive.
In a single moment, the seller and I lose the thread of our conversation. “Cool car, hot rod,” she says. Oh my God. If Chevrolet hopes that its strange BMW copycat campaign (all their low-contrast black-and-white booklets with endless text, constantly talking about design and a cross-cultural perspective, but assiduously avoiding the word "muscle" in connection with the word "car") will create for the Camaro new audience, then no. Muscle cars still resonate loudly and legibly with the souls of men and busty girls.
Of course, the Camaro is an impressive piece of design, and it's proportioned just as well as the Audi A5. And it is also managed very, very sharply. Of course, the new Mustang is also superbly built, as are many European sports cars that cost three times as much. And of course, the Challenger almost won Top Gear's Car of the Year six months ago.
But who are we kidding? These are classic pony cars, or at least we should see them as classic pony cars, not surrogate copies, and they are bound to sell thanks to 40 years of consumer anticipation, industrial pragmatism and legislative initiatives, plus steroid injections from extra dice. or a reinforced intake system. We must give our money for the dream formed in our common memory. Just don't buy them because of a Chevrolet ad or you're bound to be disappointed... a European sports coupe with a 6-litre V8? Come on.
So how did it all start? This is not my old-world snobbery speaking, but the one who would have started this all would be the most European American in history - Jay Mays. You don't hear much about Mays these days, but he still designs Ford on a global scale. From London. In the 90s he worked for Audi/Volkswagen, where he proposed his idea to remake the design of old models. He called it "retrofuturism". I call it, if anyone is interested, the day when the history of cars changed for the better. A day from which people will pay more for a Beetle or an Audi TT because they may not be as dynamic or functional as other cars, but they will be valued more for the way they look and (here's where main reason) because of how that appearance makes one feel. Especially if this feeling is enhanced by some memories and associations from the very depths of your subconscious.
The Mustang was Mays' third retro-futuristic car for Ford - the first two were the flashy Thunderbird and the gorgeous GT. This is already the fifth Mustang generation or rather generation number five and a half, because this "comprehensive but still hard to see" facelift is considered a new rebirth famous model. The resounding success of the 2004 Mustang likely gave impetus to the somewhat sluggish design and marketing teams of GM, for whom Chevrolet remains a top brand, and Chrysler, whose Dodge is the brand for blue-collar global all-American demand.
Dodge's first response was the concept Challenger, which made audiences moan as unintentionally as Uma Thurman did when she got naked in Dangerous Liaisons. They were obliged to release it. They did it. A year later, they entered the race and General Motors, presenting his Camaro Concept, only it was rather a tribute to the famous cartoon that made its debut on the big screen. These were the first Transformers, and the resurrected Camaro caused no less groans than a half-dressed Megan Fox, throwing her hands behind her head on his swollen hood.
All old-new bodies designed to make you smile need some serious industrial platforms to form the basis, and this is where the Mustang, the oldest car of the trio in terms of its base, lost without a doubt. The Camaro sits on the platform of Holden, an Australian GM outpost. If you thought it was a Vauxhall VXR8 inside, you weren't far from the truth. At the same time, the Chrysler 300C served as the basis for the Challenger, which in turn borrowed the platform from Mercedes E class three generations ago. This means that both the Camaro and the Challenger have received the normal suspension for the 21st century - both rear and front. The Mustang, on the other hand, was implanted with the insides of its immediate predecessor - something like an oak branch between the rear wheels. This design, and I'm almost sure of it, has been with the Fords for twenty generations, if not more.
But maybe putting on a rear suspension, taking a relic from the Mayflower as a model, is good idea Is the Mustang the new 2010 Shelby GT500 Mustang a true resurrection miracle? First, it looks fantastic. Like you, I wasn't thrilled with the facelift - that hockey stick curve from the back of the door has become commonplace, no matter how expensive it is to make. Meanwhile, in the flesh, he does his job, somehow indicating the origin of the machine. For example, the Mustang we tested was azure racing of blue color with white stripes, and he looked like a thoroughbred racing car. It is the most compact of the three, leans amazingly in corners and is beautifully detailed. I especially liked the three vertical bulbs in each taillight cluster, which quickly light up in turn, starting with the inner one, as you start to turn. You might think it's stupid. I think it's cool, and these cars can do things just for the sake of being cool.
Acceleration to hundreds takes 4.3 seconds. That should please you if you're looking for something truly austere and serious like the 911. Yes, that's exactly the kind of speed you get thanks to the 540 horsepower of a 5.4-liter V8 equipped with a traditional Roots-type compressor. Shelby's breath can be felt all the time - numerous details are provided for this, from the Cobra badges on the grille to the giant and old-fashioned conical air filter, installed under the highest and widest influx of the hood of our trinity. This filter alone caused a power increase of 10 hp. and increased the torque by 40 Nm. Turn off the traction control and the extra traction will scroll the wheels to the fourth speed. It's very Neanderthal, but also very, very fun.
But the management of the new Mustang is definitely not primitive. The old car bounced and writhed on its suspension—its understiff construction just dangled from its understiffened chassis. Seriously, when Charlie drove home in the old GT500, I began to fear for his life. Now I wouldn't. Maybe the new Shelby isn't the best steering in the world, but it is clearly at a satisfactory level. In addition, it has an informative clutch and the most accurate gearbox with short shifts in the world. It's not easy to ride, but after some serious work was done by the engineers on its chassis and NHV (Noise, Vibration & Harshness) factor, it became a very acceptable car. To be honest, it feels like Ford made it for the Europeans. Maybe I offended now American developers, but I after all made a compliment to their creation. So any of you would buy this Mustang. On both sides of the Atlantic.
Another pleasant moment turned out to be horizontally corrugated seats, trimmed black leather, with two white stripes. There was already such a raid on our car, as if she managed to participate in two 24-hour races. Interface information system and the dashboard are made clearly and verified, speaking in in general terms. And by the way, they still say “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” to you, depending on the time of day. Does the system say "Good evening"? I don't know, I was driving a Challenger at sunset...
There isn't much left to say about this car after all that's been said about it, but the Mustang and Camaro's updated dynamics take the Challenger to the next level. clean water during the first quarter mile race.
Not that it was a problem, because we all fell in love with the Challenger not for how it rides, but for how it looks. I remember one agonizing sleepless night when I was trying to decide if the Scirocco should be Top Gear's Car of the Year or if I should still trust my heart and give preference to the Challenger. And doubts have not left me until now. The Challenger is a great car to own or be in. But it's not very good to drive. Unlike that impeccable but too moderate Volkswagen.
His problem is not in the chassis. Let's not forget that Dodge got its hands on great platforms after Chrysler and Daimler divorced. The problem is the size. Challengers were never compact muscle cars, but the industrial need to stretch its body to 300C dimensions made it even longer (5 meters) and heavier (1.9 tons). The designers may have succeeded in making this scaling look great visually, but the engineers couldn't handle the laws of physics, and it doesn't matter if it has a limited slip differential or not.
But still - acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in just 4.9 seconds. Yes, it's half a second slower than the Shelby, but there's nothing to be ashamed of when you remember that its naturally aspirated 6.1-liter Hemi only puts out 425 Horse power. I haven't driven the Challenger with an automatic yet, but I suspect it's a lot better than the long-shift Termec 6-speed manual that the Challenger shares with the Camaro.
Now let's turn to the car, which, if not designed to save GM, but at least restore at least some confidence in the giant of the American and world auto industry, which has already been officially recognized as incapacitated. This car is breathtakingly beautiful, but the first impression does not improve over time. I saw mine parked all alone next to dealer center Chevrolet, which, as you might guess, already did not know how to fuse its supplies, a week before they gave me a car for testing, and then it just drove me crazy. But when I got to California a week later and they gave me another Camaro, I was far less impressed. His insanely proportioned windows (three times as wide as the length), his cartoonish face, the way he sincerely copies the original '67 model, and the overall combination of these three points... you'll be crazy about it all. But only when you see it for the first time. I understand why the embattled advertising agency GM continues its European style car campaign with such vehemence. camaro- impressive car he just lacks fun.
Although let's not forget the SS version with a 6.2-liter V8 with 426 hp. at 570 Nm of torque. Add here high-tech chassis, consistent and responsive, really good handling, harsh and relentless Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential that you even sometimes feel, and the fact that this is, if my memory serves me, the only car other than Rolls-Royce Phantom, in whose factory equipment includes 21-inch wheels (albeit as an option) ...
Yes... I'm just out of breath. The Camaro beats the rest in terms of handling, but the Mustang is much more exciting. It has the most thoughtful design, but the Challenger captured my heart once and for all. I liked driving it (although this is probably the first car in which I got sick in the last 20 years - (apparently because of these windows - the view from them, as if through a slot in motorcycle helmet), but nothing more. He didn't enthrall me. He did not make it clear that he was a real muscle car.
Salon also did not help the case. It's neat and minimalistic in design and workmanship, but there's no interesting detail at all (think the Mustang's shifter), and the build feels cheap, like Brazilian Volkswagens that can't hide their lowly origins. It's all depressing, forgive me guys. Perhaps your Europeanization campaign isn't as far off the mark as I thought. It's a Eurostyle coupe wrapped in a retro parody of a '67 Camaro. I'm disappointed, I expected something completely different. Something closer to the original. But maybe I'm being too subjective...
So lovers american muscle who would you choose? The $46,000 Shelby is more expensive than the $34,000 Camaro and $31,000 Challenger, but Ford is happy to give you a 225-hp option. weaker for 28,000 is the price of a regular V8 GT. And by the way, it’s worth mentioning that you won’t be able to buy an Audi TT with a V6 even at the price of a Shelby…
The Shelby-marked Mustang is the sportiest of the three, with the fastest speed and the loudest noise. If you, like me, salivate at the sight of old racing cars, then, perhaps, consider it the most attractive. Without decals, this, however, is no longer the case. A true work of art among them remains the Challenger. Unfortunately, its size makes it too bulky and clumsy on city streets, where it is immediately passed by the Camaro - best engine, handling and chassis (if only that nausea had been caused by the pastrami sandwich instead of the lack of visibility), plus what I would call progressive styling. For now. It's a pity it doesn't have that indomitable Mustang spirit, but that's another $12,000. But still, baby, do you still want to ride?
"Chevy Camaro, Ford Mustang or Dodge Challenger?" - approximately the same question is asked by most muscle car lovers in the United States, and not only. Choose between three powerful cars guided by completely different preferences. The value may be appearance, performance, price, quality. But these are “classmates” cars, and the choice is often difficult. Once again, the columnist of an authoritative publication is trying to help him Daily News who tested the basic versions of cars.
Camaro Club Translation
When choosing and comparing such sports cars, it is best not to start with models with "smoking tires" - Camaro SS, Mustang GT or Challenger SRT, before buying which you need to first consult with an insurance agent - these cars are so urged to step on the gas. At the end of this article, a person should more clearly understand what he wants and what he is ready to spend money on. Let's take a better look at the "younger" versions in order to understand what you can count on.
Just as the muscles of a good runner tense up to achieve maximum speed-per-distance output, automakers fine-tune the performance of sports cars to provide maximum performance at the lowest cost. All this is done to attract the attention of buyers. In fact, Chevy, Ford and Dodge are perfect examples for such a comparison.
Who is better in this competition, you can understand by examining the three "younger" versions of cars in their maximum possible, peak configuration.
Chevrolet Camaro 1LT
In the US it starts at $26,695 (including $995 shipping). With the RS package, engine cooling and performance brake package, technology package, yellow with black stripes paint and premium floor mat, it will set you back $30,575.
Dodge Challenger SXT
In the US it starts at $28,090 (including $1,095 shipping). Upgrades come in the form of Plus trim, Blacktop package, Super Track package, high performance brake pads, a whale of comfort for the driver, a navigation system and a premium audio system. Total: $35,310.
Ford Mustang
The base price of this sports car is $25,045 (900 shipping). As an option, we take a 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, a premium package and a performance package. These improvements bring the cost to $35,310.
Deciding which is better will not be easy, and it lies in the plane of your preferences. But after spending a lot of time with three cars, the following reasonable arguments arise.
Third place for Ford Mustang
Sleek and undeniably sexy, Mustang says his style is more important than that, what is inside. Sophisticated design inside and out makes the car most convincing when viewed from the side. The only thing that catches the eye and is dissonant is the absurdly painted diffuser, which blends with the body color, which is not accepted.
Inside, everything is reminiscent of 1964, when the first Mustang was released. Stylized chrome border of instruments, aluminum trim in places. You feel like you are in the cockpit of an airplane. Unfortunately, there is also a negative - low-grade plastic, probably for the sake of economy. But overall, the comfort of the ventilated and heated front seats is very impressive. You can squeeze someone in from behind, but it’s better not to do this for reasons of maintaining good relations with these people. The trunk also leaves much to be desired.
In model year 2016, the car received a new multimedia system with synchronization, with a touch display and voice recognition, as well as with improved graphics. Smartphone screen projection technology is provided for the 2017 model.
The sports car has several collision avoidance systems, but none were installed on the test car. But emergency automatic braking was the default.
EcoBoost 4 turbo engine with 2.3-liter displacement and 310 hp created as an improvement in the ratio of performance and fuel consumption, but the 3.6-liter V6 is the base one, and has a slightly lower performance -300 hp. The turbo four also has 54 Nm of torque at lower revs, more than the 3.6-liter cousin. Fuel consumption in the test cycle was 10.4 liters per 100 km. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual.
The large radiator, self-locking limited-slip differential and summer tires included in the performance package created a wonderful driving experience. All these packages add smoothness, traction and a bit of lateral acceleration to the car, but if you don't need to rush through twisty and wet roads, you can not spend money on all these things.
The present driving modes: Normal, Sport, Track, Snow/Wet add comfort to driving.
Why in third place?
The disadvantages of the car are not very good visibility and the dominance of cheap plastic in the cabin. The rear seats are useless, and this makes the car actually a two-seater.
Second place for Dodge Challenger
A look at the Dodge Challenger immediately takes you back to the old days. It seems that this car has not changed since the middle of the last century, although, in fact, all this is not so. It's a big sports car, a real full-size sports sedan, geared towards a tall driver.
This is primarily a wide and large car. The rear seats will easily accept an adult, which distinguishes it from two competitors. In fact, this is its main advantage and main criterion, according to which people choose this particular muscle car, which also has a huge trunk.
The Challenger comes with a separately adjustable stereo system and climate control. All this for those who do not like frequent contact with the touch screen. There is Wi-Fi, but instead of 4G, 3G is built in.
The base engine is a 3.6-liter, producing 305 hp, but unlike competitors, it comes with an 8-speed "automatic". If you like mechanical box, then you will have to turn to the older version with V8 for help.
The balance of this sports car is not bad. It boasts a front/rear weight ratio of 52 to 48 percent. This balance, combined with a track suspension package and improved steering, paired with improved tires results in some amazing performance that is quite serious. In addition to excellent acceleration that rivals the 2-litre engines of the other two contenders, the fuel consumption of this heavy car is also within reason, and in the test cycle was 21.9 liters per 100 km. Unfortunately, there are no big compliments to be given to this car when it hits a winding road at a good speed, not even a good steering setting will help. It can't be compared to the Mustang and Camaro in terms of maneuverability, although the big 20-inch tires improve its traction ability, but this is not enough, and once you accelerate, you will have to slow down on it much more often than if you were driving the other two muscle cars.
It rides quite noisily, showing that the structural age of the body is quite large, however, good soundproofing saves in the driver's cab.
Why is Challenger second?
People want their cars to be stylish and fun, but even more want them to be efficient and practical. Among the three muscle cars, all this can be attributed to the Challenger.
At the same time, there are downsides that hit the Challenger. It doesn't come with an open body and a sliding roof like its rivals, which makes it a little too boring at certain times when you're on a beautiful track and want to take a sip of the wind.
However, Dodge has a 707bhp version for you, but that's another story entirely.
On the first location Chevrolet Camaro
Before riding this 3.6-liter version with all the above gadgets, I also had a chance to ride a 2.0-liter turbo version, about which there were negative comments on the network. Don't believe everything you read. All the same, but it looks from a slightly different angle.
First, the exterior design. It's entirely modern look muscle car, which only remotely resembles the "old times", but that's what attracts, because it modern car. The only thing - a large hood makes you remember that in its design there is something from classical model 1967.
Inside, everything is very funny. The eye is instantly riveted by huge ventilation holes, which are no less interestingly regulated by hand, by rotating the cones. Also eye-catching is the large info-display at an interesting angle.
But you can not doubt for a second the comfort of the front seats, where everything is thought out. It is almost impossible to get tired while sitting in such, besides, the seats have a very variable adjustment.
Unfortunately there are no rear seats. Or rather, they are, but they are not. Understand how you want. The same can be said about the trunk, although it is enough for a trip to the store and “on business”.
WITH dashboard everything is more than okay. There simplicity and readability of all data on highest level. Information display has a projection of the content of the smartphone, and works with Apple and Android. There is satellite radio and all wireless access points. Buttons of the sensational system OnStar are built in a rear-view mirror.
Now the main attraction of the sixth generation Camaro is built on the platform from the Cadillac ATS, which distinguishes it from its predecessor, the fifth generation Camaro, this car demonstrates the wonders of handling and dynamics. In addition, the view of the hood does not obscure the view of the road, as it did with its predecessor, despite the fact that the hood is still large.
Boost the 2.0-litre turbo engine with 275 hp. and as much as 400 Nm of torque, as it should, and you will realize that you are in a completely different class than if you were driving one of the two competitors described. Equipped like an Audi or Volkswagen, this car performs better than the EcoBoost Mustang, which revs more smoothly to the redline. Though seemingly nominally, the Mustang's 2.3-liter engine is more powerful. At the same time, the cycle consumption was 10.7 liters per 100 km.
Now about what they write about peak torque. It really starts to show itself at speeds above 3000.
The whole optional package makes the car merge into the road surface, regardless of the speed at which the turn is made, of course, within reasonable limits. But definitely, handling on a winding road is his strong point and the second main distinguishing feature against the backdrop of two competitors, especially the heavy Challenger. The Camaro cuts corners with the precision and cleanliness of a compass in the safe hands of a designer.
Riding modes can be selected depending on preference, and each of the modes is completely adequate. For example, the "Sport" mode, when the speed of the car is not high, becomes annoying, and it is better to set it in very rare cases when you need to get away from the chase, for example. Then it will be useful and correct.
But it was not without tar here. When shifting from first to second gear, power sometimes drops. Peak torque appears after 3000 rpm, although Chevy specifies that 90 percent of the torque should be already at 2000. Why this happens is difficult to understand, and it was not possible to identify this. The second minus is that the road noise is strong enough, which makes lovers of silence turn their eyes towards one of the two competitors.
Why is the Camaro in the first place?
Him better visibility roads under the hood, it is more maneuverable and manageable, the car's suspension setup is beyond praise, the braking system works great. Driving is a pleasure all the time. The imperfection of the car in terms of road noise, of course, is a reason for reflection, but nothing will prevent a real driving lover from getting earplugs.
If you did not know what the holy trinity looks like, it is in front of you. It is these three from the casket, completely different from the face, that are the images of American culture. You can despise her, you can be wary of her, but you must respect her. If only because the States is a country great opportunities, big machines and big money… at least that was the case before the crisis, when they managed to design the new Camaro.
As we see this year's results, the Camaro is America's top seller of these dream cars. It is not surprising. "Transformers", fresh appearance and more or less new technologies - these factors were bound to have a positive impact on his popularity. Although, compared to the Japanese Tamagotchi stuffed with electronics, it's just a car.
Most likely, you did not know that the new Camaro has deep Russian roots! During his presentation at the Traverse City Automotive Conference, GM Chairman Rick Wagonier said: new chevrolet Camaro, - and added, "in 2009, the first hundred thousand buyers will appreciate how alive the brains of Russian designers work - one of them worked on the exterior of the new Camaro. And, it is Vladimir Kapitonov. The very word "Camaro" is also not very American. Chevrolet marketers are said to have stumbled upon it in a French slang dictionary, where "camaro" was explained as a derivative of comrade - "comrade", "companion". According to other sources, in Latin America, the name "camaro" is one of the types of shrimp. Engineers Chevrolet shrimp grew into an "animal that devours Mustangs." It was “Kamarik” that became the first of our trinity, which appeared two years before the Mustang - in 1967. "Challenger" - the youngest, appeared in the 1970th. But in terms of the latest generation, it tore everyone like an ace heating pad, Mustang ...
The Ford people were the first to realize that in the 21st century, the easiest way to increase the sales of a legend is to revive it. In 2004, they returned the Mustang, which had turned into a remnant in accordance with the fashion canons of its time, with the appearance of a classic muscle car. "Retrofuturism" is how Ford Vice President of Design Jay Mace called the style, which made a modern interpretation of the "Mustang" of the sixties. And he turned out to be quite successful. The square soap dish went to school like children, and not only in America, but also in other countries located absolutely in different parts of the Earth. Such popularity is clearly visible in Ukraine.
As for the Challenger, it has never sold better than the Mustang and Kamarik. A slight increase in sales was observed only a couple of times in the history of the holy trinity. What is the reason? First, base Fords and Camaros have always been cheaper (except latest generation), and secondly, “Chel” is not
could work off the money the way, say, Mustang did. The latter is sporty, fast and more distinguished. What about the Challenger? Big, specific, but cool…
Logically, it would be necessary to talk further about the driving characteristics of each of the cars, but we will not do this, because we will mention the Challenger, but we will mention in passing how the Mustang drives. The main character is Camaro, which we drove before the cold weather, but due to some circumstances we could not write about it, or rather, publish an article. We note right away that we traveled on the RS version with a 3.6-liter engine with 304 horsepower. At first, Kamarik was in a body kit and on stock wheels, but, over time, the owner changed them to 21st wheels and removed the body kit.
Salon ... in this regard, the new Camaro is an atypical "American", or rather partially. The plastic is traditionally “oakish”, but the dashboard looks like one of the best American “oils” in the history! Well, that's our opinion. In front of your eyes - recessed wells in a retro-futuro style, at the bottom right - separate sensors (oil temperature, battery charging, etc.). The salon looks especially elegant at night - when turquoise-white lights are lit. Landing is what you need. You can't see a thing... a bunker on wheels. Windshield like in the old ZIL, and side windows- like rectangular portholes in a submarine. Those who suffer from claustrophobia will either have to be treated or take another car. Seats can hardly be called anatomical. There is developed lateral support and they hold in corners, but you still slide ...
But the machine itself passes turns as quickly as a mosquito dodges, which they are trying to kill. What's the secret? And, this is the most important advantage of the Camaro. Unlike the Mustang, the rear suspension here is completely independent! Yes, yes, looking under the "skirt" rear bumper you will no longer see the "40-year-old" continuous beam rear axle. That is why the Camaro does not squeak or “scrape” like the Mustang when cornering. A real example - during an energetic drive through a flower bed, the latter squealed much louder. It's not good, but it's not bad either. Because, for example, dredge lovers in general can become hysterical if they see a Camaro independent suspension. On the contrary, give them a beam!
Oddly enough, the Kamarik handles much better than you'd expect. The only thing that prevents you from passing the “snake” is the size and visibility, but this is a matter of habit. And at first you have to go on the instruments. Screwing into a turn, the yellow minke really turns into a "Transformer"! Twisting the steering wheel, you think that the reactions will be wadded and "stupid", but the pipes! Vzhy-Y-yk ... and the car has already turned around. Stronger, faster ... tires begin to squeak ... and the Google phrase "" comes to mind. Oh, don't let go! Until you turn off the electronic nannies… then you start to remember that under you there are 304 “posterior-hoofed” horses that don’t mind drifting. But not as we would like - the suspension settings, and in general the essence of the car is different. This same "Mustik" can be converted to, but Kamarik is unlikely. Shevik's latest reincarnation is designed for city driving, not highway driving. But the brakes are still "American" - the pedal is like jelly, and the reactions when you press it also do not make you hang on the belts. As well as not clinging to everything that sticks out during acceleration. But there are nuances...
3.6 liters in the minds of oil fans is like a burp from HEMI, but in reality the Camaro RS accelerates quite well. You don’t stick to the back, of course, but you can duck in front of a girl at a traffic light. Gear shifting is also quite predictable, and the American automatic machine finally doesn't "stupid" like Chernovetsky at press conferences. And, all thanks to progress, which still got to Chevrolet. Instead of a 5-speed (and often even 4-) speed gearbox, a 6-speed sequential automatic HydraMatic is installed, which, among other things, is trained to save fuel by automatically selecting the optimal shift point for imposing driving. Consumption in the city - within 14-15 liters, on the highway at 150-160 km / h - about 10. That's it, the era of "glutton" is over! Americans have also learned to put their cars on a diet.
I would like to end with some kind of “action”, but alas, the Camaro is only able to turn into a bot in a movie. He is handsome and likes even those who can't stand the "Americans". Will you bet? We don't think. Rides well, predictably, but it is unlikely that the person who previously had Mustang Shelby. Even if we are talking about a charged version of SS. Camaro is a new page filled by those who want to drive a fat bright car with good handling. They do not need excessive rigidity or drive. They want to be noticed and admired...because the new Camaro is all about looks. Like a Playboy magazine with naked Anna Semenovich on the cover. Everyone says that they buy it for interesting articles, but in the end they look at the boobs ...
Why endure a many-hour flight across the Atlantic? Maybe for the sake of a car dealership, the presentation of a new model or an exhibition of automotive antiques? May be. But we flew in a tight formation for a comparative test drive of native American supercars. After all, it is the native habitat for these coupes that should help us understand why they are like that and why they are so different from their European counterparts. The culprits of this car comparison are muscle cars: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Dodge Challenger SRT8-392 and Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
With the most powerful versions of these models, we, however, failed to maintain parity in the horse population. Chevy and Ford are armed with compressor motors for a test drive, and the Dodge supercar has an atmospheric “eight” with a return of “only” 470 forces. Moreover, after a recent upgrade, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has built up an extra 400 cubic meters of displacement and raised the power bar to an unattainable height of 650 horses. Thus, proving (and this, by the way, more than 100 forces per liter) who is the boss in the house, and for one thing once again reminded of what the illustrious name of Carroll Shelby is really worth. GM's idea of a 580-horsepower Camaro failed - he was king of the freeway for only a few months.
However, we will not get hung up on power: previous test drives have shown that its value is far from always paramount, especially since with the tuning industry so developed in America, installing a mechanical supercharger on the same Dodge Challenger SRT 8 will not be difficult. Shelbievsky 650 without additional tricks, of course, cannot be achieved, but 580 horsepower, like a Camaro, is quite, especially since Dodge has the largest engine in the tested trio.
We were primarily interested in the concept of these sports cars and, in general, the right to life of such an approach in car design high power. Dodge and Chevrolet this case more fortunate than Ford - both have multi-link rear suspensions, and far from own development. The Challenger has profited from a former collaboration with Mercedes, and the Camaro has the Zeta platform from Australian Holden. True, we have a suspicion that the Zeta is nothing more than a modernized chassis of the 1994 Opel Omega European business sedan, but we will not argue: Australia is Australia.
What gives such a multi-joint suspension rear wheels? Let's say right away, in the case of a test drive of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Dodge Challenger SRT8-392 - a little. In the latter, for example, the front axle accounts for about 56% of the total mass, the lion's share of which is the mighty eight, which, unlike the V8, is BMW cars did not move far within the wheelbase. About 53% of the front weight on the Camaro looks preferable, but let's not forget the American love for different-sized tires. All three cars had narrower tires at the front, which allowed for an already fair share of understeer. As a result, there is no need to talk about precise control of the trajectory by the gas pedal - only demolition is in the limit.
Why such obvious reinsurance? Everything is very simple. In America " safe car' is a well-defined concept. Here unfolded some inexperienced driver in a turn on a powerful Mustang, Camaro, etc., and then another, third. And now hundreds of lawsuits are flying to court. Then an influential lawyer or politician appears who accuses the entire concern as a whole. Do they need it? Moreover, a similar situation has already been in the history of the auto industry of the New World. In 1965, American lawyer Ralph Nader published his book Dangerous at Any Speed, in which he criticized the dangerous, in his opinion, chevrolet car Corvair and accused GM of a malicious approach in the design of their models.
However, not so long ago, the US banned the sale of the Pagani Huayra supercar due to the inconsistency of its airbags with North American safety standards. And we are talking about some kind of drive there ...
Salons of Ford and Chevrolet seemed to us very stylish - american-design in the good sense of the word. Classical architecture, retromativs in the design of instrument panels. We won’t grumble about hard plastic, which has become the talk of the town for cars from the States, especially if you remember the price basic versions at home. Interior decoration Dodge looks the most rustic in a comparative test drive (or we Europeans don’t understand something), the Challenger received even a more compact three-spoke steering wheel relatively recently. And yet, such utilitarian design in Dodge is confirmed in practice: only its rear seat can accommodate three passengers, the interior space does not lag behind the gigantic dimensions of the outside (more than five meters in length).
And how is the archaic continuous bridge of the rear dependent suspension Mustang? Imagine, very good. When you sit like a glove in magnificent leather Recaro chairs and you are furiously carried forward by 650 horses under the hood, you somehow don’t remember this. In tight corners, of course, you can feel the twitches of the rear of the body, especially on the waves of the coating, but, firstly, they are not so great, and secondly, Ford test drive Mustang Shelby GT500 5.8 clearly proved that he is the most transparent in relations with the driver. If his demeanor can in some cases seem rougher than that of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, then even in such situations Ford's uncouthness is easily controlled and, in general, is in perfect harmony with the temperament of the car. Throw in the Torsen rear self-locking differential, the most intelligently tuned stabilization system, and you will understand which side our sympathies are in the sports category (of course, if you have certain extreme driving skills). In addition, the Mustang is the most compact and lightest of the trio. For him in America they even came up with special term- pony car. Indeed, ponies are more agile and nimble.
And yet, you shouldn't be fooled. Even in the case of the “small” Mustang, you will never forget that you are driving a fairly large coupe, and with not the best visibility. All three sports cars have a very modest glass area, and at the same time, massive body pillars are not only at the rear, but also at the front. In the urban conditions of a test drive, you will not relax, it remains to rely on the status of a car: Russian drivers, having seen such a carcass in rear mirror usually give way on their own. Another plus in the city is a huge supply of traction, coupled with long gears. mechanical transmissions. Conclusion: you can resort to the gear lever less often, and this is an additional convenience in the jungle of the metropolis.
Most habitat habitats for these machines is, of course, Gran Turismo. Dodge test drive Challenger SRT8-392 made him the leader in this category. Royal spaciousness, almost five hundred forces are enough always and everywhere, and the front seats with the least developed lateral support only add comfort on a long journey. You can cover more than one hundred kilometers without much fatigue, and the softest suspension in the tested trinity contributes to additional stability at high speeds. That is why in America they love such equipment so much, and, in our opinion, the basic six-cylinder versions will be quite enough for these purposes.
Why then do we need such exorbitant power under the hoods of these machines? Let's not forget the specifics automotive market in USA. Even the most charged models of the New World are much cheaper than foreign cars of similar power. A 650-horsepower Mustang Shelby, for example, can be had for the same $60,000 or so as a 420-horse BMW M3, not to mention the pricier BMW X5 M. At the same time, Mustang and Camaro and Challenger are absolute legends, icons of America with their glorious history and, of course, being a niche product. Even the Japanese, who hastily brought massive pro-American pickups of their own design to the US market, did not dare to encroach on the muscle car segment. Owning such a coupe is very patriotic. Isn't it nice to wipe the nose of some owner of a BMW, or even a Porsche, at a traffic light?
We, as Europeans, may not be very pleased, but it's interesting, that's for sure. Everything here is not like people, in the sense not like in the Old World. And, most importantly, that all the differences that may at first glance seem absurd, always have a practical purpose. As a consequence, the biggest folly is the claim that Americans don't know how to make cars.
Having discarded the emotions received from communication with the frantic Mustang, we all unanimously recognized that the Chevrolet Camaro would be the most understandable and familiar to the average inhabitant of the Old World. The only negative is the aerodynamic noise that is crushing at speeds over 200 km / h. Apparently, it was the aerodynamics that caused the low maximum speed of the coupe: only 6 km / h higher compared to the “weaker” Dodge. Otherwise, the Camaro is the most balanced car in the comparative test drive. It is not without reason that this particular model, albeit in more modest versions, is presented on Russian market at a price of 1,990,000 rubles. However, this does not mean at all that the other two coupes are unworthy. Russian residence permit. On the contrary, in the modern world, where every year cars are becoming more and more similar to each other, such an exclusive is most welcome. We will always be happy to welcome the old American school, fully embodied in these sports cars, and at the same time in the more extreme Corvette and Viper, especially since the manufacturers of this equipment from the USA have nothing to be ashamed of, as we have seen. After all, driving pleasure is more important than soft plastic, isn't it?!
Photos of Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford
