If you’re searching the new car market for something that’s fast, looks cool and sound even cooler, then a muscle car could be just what you’re looking for. Muscle cars feature bold styling, exciting performance figures and generally put a lot of emphasis on the word ‘fun’.
Here we pick out the best muscle cars which are available new car buyers in Britain.
What is a muscle car?
The term muscle car originates from America and is used to refer to a variety of high-performance cars. Muscle cars are most commonly associated with large, two-door sport coupes or four-door saloons, which use sizeable V8 engines.
Although the vast majority of vehicles that have been dubbed as muscle cars originate from America, some cars from outside the US have also been referred to as muscle cars as they fit the relevant criteria.
The best new muscle cars on sale
Ford Mustang GT
The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic sports cars in the world and is one of the first names many will think of when they think ‘muscle car’ or ‘pony car’. For a while though, the Mustang was not officially sold in Britain but that’s no longer the case thanks to the latest model.
The latest Mustang is quite the spectacular beast, particularly in the GT specification where it uses a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine boasting 413bhp. This can be hooked up with either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The Mustang GT can cover the zero to 62mph sprint in just 4.8 seconds.
As well as having the performance to delight performance enthusiasts, the latest Mustang is adept at both cruising comfortably at low speed and offering lots of grip when a chance to be more exuberant arrives.
Read our full review of the Ford Mustang
Find prices for the Ford Mustang coupe/fastback
Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is a bold-looking muscle car which has had a long-lasting rivalry with the Ford Mustang.
The most powerful engine with the latest Camaro is a 6.2-litre V8 petrol unit boasting 449bhp. With this V8, the Camaro can go from zero to 60mph in 4.3 seconds when using the standard six-speed manual gearbox or four seconds precisely when using the eight-speed automatic gearbox.
If the costs are too high for your liking, you can alternatively pick one of the Camaro’s smaller engines which includes a 271bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol and a 330bhp 3.6-litre V6.
With the Chevrolet Camaro you get a car that really stands out on the road, is loud, fast in a straight line but not too shabby through the corners either. All of these things are needed to delight muscle car fans and the Camaro has got it all sussed out.
Vauxhall VXR8 GTS
Vauxhall are best known for sensible cars like the Corsa and Astra, but the British car brand also has the VXR8 GTS in its range and it is a proper muscle car up there with the best.
The Vauxhall VXR8 GTS in truth is a rebadged version of the HSV GTS made by Holden - an Australian car manufacturer which, like Vauxhall, is owned by General Motors. The VXR8 GTS is not American but it has all the key quirks you’d want from a proper muscle car.
The car is large and has an aggressive-looking design with sharp side skirts and snout-like air vents. It’s got a big, powerful engine under the bonnet too, specifically a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 that pumps out 576bhp. Utilising a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, the Vauxhall takes just 4.2 seconds to cover the zero to 62mph sprint.
All the power is sent to the rear wheels and if you take the VXR8 GTS on a track, you can expect a lot of fun tail-happy driving action to ensue.
Find prices for the Vauxhall VXR8 saloon
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
The Corvette Stingray’s design is sleeker and more sport-focused than other entries in this guide, but this car still carries many of the hallmarks of a true muscle car. That includes a bold presence and design, a big 6.2-litre V8 engine, rear-wheel drive, a raucous soundtrack from the V8 and eye-catching performance figures.
The latest Corvette takes just 4.2 seconds to cover the benchmark 0-62mph sprint when using its seven-speed manual gearbox and the estimated top speed is 195mph.
As well as spectacularly fast, Chevrolet has done a great job of setting the car up to handle European roads with aplomb, without feeling too rough in terms of ride quality either. This is by far one of the best handling sports cars to come from the US and it has many neat luxuries onboard too including an eight-inch touchscreen and a head-up display.