Stonehauler
Active Member
- First Name
- Ed
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2026
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- Location
- Mid Atlantic
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- 2011 F350, 2016 340xi, 2025 340xi
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- #1
With the announcement of the Chevy and Buick cars to come alongside a new "CT5", I think it's important to understand the possibilities for these vehicles, their limitations, target audience, and potential competition.
First, let's define each
Pony car - an affordable (usually a convertible, a 2 door or two with a hatch) car designed for straight line acceleration with good handling. These often required sacrificing ride quality and refinement. These are not sports cars, but neither are they a family car. It is designed for a driver and a passenger, with little thought to back seat comfort and room. While smaller individual can sit back there, it's difficult to put car seats, including boosters there, and larger kids will find it cramped. It is intended to appeal to single individuals and families without children in the house. Usually RWD with multiple engine choices, anthough AWD is considered for higher horsepower versions. Some consider it a two or three season car.
Examples: Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro are two of the better known vehicles of this class. The BMW 2 series and 4 series could be considered pony cars as well, except for the higher price tag BMW traditionally uses Turbocharged engines vs the naturally aspirated traditional V8 used by American car manufacturers.
Muscle Car - this definition has evolved over time, but usually a 5 passenger mid to full sized vehicle, with a big engine stuffed up front. This car is designed more for straight line acceleration than rather than top speed through the twisties. Considered by some to be a family car with attitude, these have been called muscle cars and sleepers. These are not designed to be flashy, but to blend in with other cars. While the suspension has been upgraded to handle the additional grunt from the engine and perhaps a few other components like good sway bars, the suspension is sporty, but tuned more for comport than all out performance. Examples are the Dodge Charger and Challenger, the Chevy SS, Ford Thunderbird (89-97, especially super coupe), Olds 442, Buick Regal Grand National, Mercury Marauder, Impala SS (94-96), etc. Target audience is the 35-55 year old family man who misses the performance of their pony car, and wants something practical, but also fun to drive.
Performance Luxury - The sizes of these cars is not as well defined as Muscle Cars and Pony Cars and can range from the BMW M340 and M3, BMW M550 (2022), Lincoln Mk 8, BMW i5 M60, CT5 Blackwing, CT4 Blackwing, Mercedes AMG series, Lexus IS F, etc. These cars are designed more for comfort, but can use technical solutions to increase the performance. They also tend to use better and more expensive suspension geometry to provide a thrilling, but non-punishing ride. Often driven by executives and higher paid professionals, these cars can provide a thrilling no-compromise ride. While not always engineered for the absolute best straight line performance, they are turned to "go around corners" and provide a comfortable ride that provides thrills without punishment of any kind.
New Chevy - Should retain some of the best aspects of the Pony Car. It should be affordable, and fun to drive. Base models should be cheap and efficient, but retain the same cornering ability. It's not designed for families, golfers, etc. 106-109 inch wheelbase. 2-3 engine options outside the halo car. A 2.0 economy engine producing "only" 230-250 hp. A 320-370 hp midrange, and a 500+ hp version. The Halo car should be 775-850 hp. A It should be used as a car to attract younger buyers as well as nostalgia drivers who have a bit more money to shell out on high end and halo cars. It should start at 29,995 and go all the way to 6 digit land with some of the highest performance halo versions.
New Buick - Full sized Muscle car and traditional sedan, but with attitude. two engines at first, a 320 hp engine, and a 515 hp engine (detuned slightly from Corvette). It should handle itself well, able to drive easily in all four seasons. It can have something like MagneRide, and some selectable ride and transmission mapping modes. It should be stylish and fun to drive, but also designed to eat up the miles on road trips. Interior should be nice and match the current Buick/GMC style, with some trim levels giving some very nice leather and other surfaces. Big enough trunk for 2 sets of clubs and a set of large/medium/carry on luggage.
New Cadillac - Full sized to Large car. Blackwing version available at the 775-800 hp level Performance should be enhanced by using tech solutions such as 3 drive modes (eco, normal, sport), fully in-car adjustable suspension, advanced geometries (if they can, share it down). This is an all thrills, no compromises vehicle that you can have a blast in by yourself, or with your family, friends, or business associates
First, let's define each
Pony car - an affordable (usually a convertible, a 2 door or two with a hatch) car designed for straight line acceleration with good handling. These often required sacrificing ride quality and refinement. These are not sports cars, but neither are they a family car. It is designed for a driver and a passenger, with little thought to back seat comfort and room. While smaller individual can sit back there, it's difficult to put car seats, including boosters there, and larger kids will find it cramped. It is intended to appeal to single individuals and families without children in the house. Usually RWD with multiple engine choices, anthough AWD is considered for higher horsepower versions. Some consider it a two or three season car.
Examples: Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro are two of the better known vehicles of this class. The BMW 2 series and 4 series could be considered pony cars as well, except for the higher price tag BMW traditionally uses Turbocharged engines vs the naturally aspirated traditional V8 used by American car manufacturers.
Muscle Car - this definition has evolved over time, but usually a 5 passenger mid to full sized vehicle, with a big engine stuffed up front. This car is designed more for straight line acceleration than rather than top speed through the twisties. Considered by some to be a family car with attitude, these have been called muscle cars and sleepers. These are not designed to be flashy, but to blend in with other cars. While the suspension has been upgraded to handle the additional grunt from the engine and perhaps a few other components like good sway bars, the suspension is sporty, but tuned more for comport than all out performance. Examples are the Dodge Charger and Challenger, the Chevy SS, Ford Thunderbird (89-97, especially super coupe), Olds 442, Buick Regal Grand National, Mercury Marauder, Impala SS (94-96), etc. Target audience is the 35-55 year old family man who misses the performance of their pony car, and wants something practical, but also fun to drive.
Performance Luxury - The sizes of these cars is not as well defined as Muscle Cars and Pony Cars and can range from the BMW M340 and M3, BMW M550 (2022), Lincoln Mk 8, BMW i5 M60, CT5 Blackwing, CT4 Blackwing, Mercedes AMG series, Lexus IS F, etc. These cars are designed more for comfort, but can use technical solutions to increase the performance. They also tend to use better and more expensive suspension geometry to provide a thrilling, but non-punishing ride. Often driven by executives and higher paid professionals, these cars can provide a thrilling no-compromise ride. While not always engineered for the absolute best straight line performance, they are turned to "go around corners" and provide a comfortable ride that provides thrills without punishment of any kind.
New Chevy - Should retain some of the best aspects of the Pony Car. It should be affordable, and fun to drive. Base models should be cheap and efficient, but retain the same cornering ability. It's not designed for families, golfers, etc. 106-109 inch wheelbase. 2-3 engine options outside the halo car. A 2.0 economy engine producing "only" 230-250 hp. A 320-370 hp midrange, and a 500+ hp version. The Halo car should be 775-850 hp. A It should be used as a car to attract younger buyers as well as nostalgia drivers who have a bit more money to shell out on high end and halo cars. It should start at 29,995 and go all the way to 6 digit land with some of the highest performance halo versions.
New Buick - Full sized Muscle car and traditional sedan, but with attitude. two engines at first, a 320 hp engine, and a 515 hp engine (detuned slightly from Corvette). It should handle itself well, able to drive easily in all four seasons. It can have something like MagneRide, and some selectable ride and transmission mapping modes. It should be stylish and fun to drive, but also designed to eat up the miles on road trips. Interior should be nice and match the current Buick/GMC style, with some trim levels giving some very nice leather and other surfaces. Big enough trunk for 2 sets of clubs and a set of large/medium/carry on luggage.
New Cadillac - Full sized to Large car. Blackwing version available at the 775-800 hp level Performance should be enhanced by using tech solutions such as 3 drive modes (eco, normal, sport), fully in-car adjustable suspension, advanced geometries (if they can, share it down). This is an all thrills, no compromises vehicle that you can have a blast in by yourself, or with your family, friends, or business associates
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