Generally speaking, car reviewers from Europe or the U.K. view American cars with great disdain. “Too big,” they cry, or “too softly sprung,” or “too poorly bolted together.” In decades past, we’d have had a hard time countering their argument, replying only, “yes, but at least we’ve perfected the electrical connection.”
These days, no one selling cars in the United States builds a bad product. Even our blue-collar sports cars (muscle cars, actually) like the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro have improved to the point where you can take properly-equipped models from the showroom to the track and turn some truly impressive lap times. Unlike the muscle cars of old, the new generation comes packing suspension, brakes and cooling systems that work as well as the obligatory big V-8 engine under the hood.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
You’d still think that elitist journo Chris Harris would be like a fish out of water behind the wheel of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 and the 2013 Shelby GT500, especially slogging through Manhattan traffic. He’s not, and we find him strangely complementary of both cars in the video below. We won’t spoil it, but we’ll tell you this much: one is more refined and better for use as a daily driver, while the other is harder edged, and ultimately leaves Harris wondering how he can export a copy to Britain. We’ve known all along that the new Mustang and Camaro are great cars, and now it looks like the rest of the world is beginning to figure this out, too.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
