New Sports Car Roundup: Ford Mustang and More

The auto show season is in full swing, with big events in Geneva and Chicago coming up soon and sooner, and that means plenty of new vehicle introductions are on their way. So today, let's take a look at some new offerings for the enthusiasts out there.

Some of the biggest news is coming out of Dearborn, where the latest, most extreme Ford Mustang variant has been unveiled. The 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 brings the Blue Oval's muscle-car fully into the 21st century with an all-new, all-aluminum V8 that makes 550 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. Notably, the engine weighs 102 lbs less than the cast-iron powerplant that drove the 2010 model, improving both performance and fuel efficiency. In fact, in what must be considered a major moral victory, the '11 GT500 will be the first modern Shelby to avoid the "gas guzzler" tax.

This will give Ford a very strong Mustang lineup that also includes a V6-powered starter 'Stang — delivering 305 hp and 30 mpg — and the reborn 5-liter GT that's good for 412 hp and 25 mpg. And Ford will continue to offer convertible counterparts, along with its unique glass-roof option that sort of splits the difference between the ragtops and the hardtops.

The question is, will this be enough to hold off the resurgent Chevrolet Camaro and help the Mustang retain its position as the muscle-car sales leader? It was a close call in 2009, with the Camaro finishing up at 61,648 sales and the Mustang tallying 66,623, but I'm thinking the Ford will retain its sales crown in 2010.

Chevy won't have a convertible model on the street for another year yet, and while the Camaro SS matches up well with the Mustang GT, GM currently has no answer to the Shelby GT500. As for the Dodge Challenger, well, it won't be living up to its name — sales-wise — anytime soon. In line with Chrysler's current strategy of building slightly modified "special editions" until actual all-new products start trickling out, the company is making do with projects like the "Furious Fuchsia" edition Challenger.

Available on Challenger R/T and SRT8 models, the Fuchsia packages offer a number of mostly cosmetic changes, with additions like unique 20-inch wheels, new seats and a functional hood scoop — and the aforementioned Furious Fuchsia paint job. Per the press release, Chrysler swears that the color "answers customers’ desire for the return of more Dodge brand high-impact heritage paint hues," but I think more people may be questioning the results — and shielding their eyes — when they see the models on the road.

Sticking with today's sporting theme, customers will soon be able to get their hands on a 40th anniversary version of the Nissan 370Z. Marking four decades since the debut of the original Z car — the 1970 Datsun 240Z — the anniversary package is, again, primarily cosmetic. It's essentially a Touring model with Nissan's Sport Package, a stunning paint treatment and some nifty red accents (including red leather seating).

But it still adds up to an interesting alternative to the tremendous trio from Detroit, provided you only need room for two. Without back seats, the Nissan is significantly smaller than the other three, but it leverages its smaller size and lower weight for better performance than its Detroit counterparts, except for the Shelby GT500. Conversely, it's also more expensive than its Detroit counterparts, except for the Shelby GT500.

Toyota is prepping an updated sports coupe for a coming debut, too. The limited edition 2010 Scion tC Release Series 6 is expected to show its face in Chicago, featuring a model-specific "Speedway Blue" finish, new seat coverings, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a monster Alpine Premium Audio setup with navigation. An interesting touch is the black vinyl "graphic" Scion is using along the car's beltline for a more aggressive look. Now, most Krome on Cars readers know I'm not too geeked on Scion, especially as a value proposition, so let me point out that the new tC definitely lives down to my expectations in regards to its price.

This new tC stickers at $19,420 with an automatic transmission and $18,620 if you want a DIY approach to shifting; that's an $850 premium above the "regular" tC model. Now, I've already done the Scion comparo thing before, but here's a new one: A Subaru Impreza 2.5i Premium (not the base model mind you) starts at $18,495 — albeit without cool vinyl graphics.

It's true the Impreza isn't exactly known for its scorching performance, but neither is the tC. One the other hand ... well, I'll take the easy way out today and just let you insert your own "Toyota unintended acceleration" joke here.