By Nick Kurczewski of Road & TrackThere is a 21st century muscle-car war going on, and the 2011 Chicago Auto Show is playing host to the meanest new machines to hit the street in a long time. Cars like the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca offer up so much horsepower, even the Windy City could lose its breath when you punch the gas pedal. And to prove that tire-melting performance isn't the sole domain of 2-door sports cars, fearsome 4-door sedans like the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 and 2011 Cadillac CTS-V (also available as a coupe or stealthy wagon) are on display.
After all, this town has a big appetite — just knock back a couple of "Chicago style" hot dogs and you'll know what we mean. So while hybrids and electric vehicles dominated the headlines at other auto shows, it makes sense that American muscle is playing a starring role in Chicago. These are five of our favorite "Monsters of the Midway" here at the Chicago Auto Show.
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The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is possibly the fastest Camaro to ever hit the streets. Named after its famous forebear, the wickedly fast 1969 Camaro ZL1 (of which only 69 were built), the modern version features a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. With approximately 550 bhp and 550 lb.-ft. of torque delivered to the rear wheels, the Camaro ZL1 might not be your first choice for cruising Lake Shore Drive during a snowstorm. Get clear of wintry roads, and you'll have no trouble melting the tires while slamming through the gears of the 6-speed manual transmission. To alert others to this car's potential — or perhaps simply to scare children and small animals — the dual-mode exhaust adjusts its sound depending on engine revs. Magnetic Ride Control (featuring Tour and Sport modes), electric-assist power steering and massive Brembo brakes (14.6 in. front/14.4 in. rear) round out some of the other performance mods of the ZL1. Externally, the biggest clue to the ZL1 being something extra special is the aluminum hood that features a power bulge and slotted air intakes. Quad exhausts that could double as chrome-tipped bazookas are another not-so-subtle hint.
View Pictures: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
The new Charger has all the stuff we liked about the previous version — tough-guy looks and potent Hemi engines — minus the things that always held this Dodge sedan back: namely, a cheap-looking interior, with hard plastics more befitting of a Matchbox model than a sports sedan. The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 is now better in every way, both inside and out. A more luxurious cabin is the most welcome change. We especially like the leather-wrapped steering wheel with a race-car-inspired flat bottom. Heated rear seats are another nice touch, although the revamp given to the dashboard is what really transforms the cabin. Of course, you're not buying a Charger SRT8 for all its fancy soft-touch surfaces. Under the car's more curvaceous exterior beats a new 465-bhp 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine. Coupled with a 5-speed automatic — which now comes with shift-paddles — the SRT8 will accelerate to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, says Dodge. And when you don't require the full Hemi arsenal, the engine will even shift into fuel-saving 4-cylinder mode.
Read: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Gets Mean
First seen during the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, the 2011 Chrysler 300C has been remade into a sleeker and perhaps even sexier American sedan. Less of a caricature than the boxy and brutish-looking Chrysler 300 that arrived back in 2005, the new 300C has leaner lines and much less chunky detailing. Like the previous Dodge Charger, the drab cabin of the previous 300 was also in need of a serious upgrade. While some people might miss the previous model's retro design cues, the latest 300C is undoubtedly a much better car. True, cars like the Camaro ZL1 and Mustang Boss 302 are in a totally different league when it comes to performance. However, the optional 363-bhp 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 in the 300C provides plenty of oomph. The base engine, a 292-bhp 3.6-liter V-6, is also no slouch. And if you live someplace where it snows — which this winter seems to include all 50 states — there is optional all-wheel drive. We drove a 300C AWD and noted that the car "is quieter, better put together and features a technology package called Uconnect that puts Chrysler in the same ballpark as cars costing much more." The only thing missing from the 300C (for now) is an SRT8 version.
Bing Images: 2011 Chrysler 300C