LA MOTOR SHOW: Muscle beach comes Downtown

Muscles cars made a strong statement at the 2011 Los Angeles Motor Show. Indeed in a climate where it seems manufacturers are vying to be the next 'green' icon, it was slightly disconcerting, but nonetheless pleasing, to see that muscle at a motorshow wasn't reserved only for the black t-shirted guys on the doors.

The home side of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all had new or refreshed muscle cars on display at the Los Angeles Convention Centre. One local wag suggested Muscle Beach had come Downtown.

Ford lit the fuse with its 200mph Mustang GT500, but GM wasn't out of the hunt, announcing pricing details of its new 432kW/754Nm Camaro ZL-1 on the eve of the LA show.

For the record the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 Camaro will set US buyers back $54,995, including a $900 "delivery fee".

In addition to the monster mill the Camaro ZL1 boasts third-generation Magnetic Ride adaptable dampers and GM's latest Performance Traction Management system This integrates control of dampers, launch control, traction control, electronic stability control and electric power steering response "to enhance performance".

GM says the top-dog Camaro has been engineered to be "track-capable from the factory, including a rear-differential cooler, an integrated engine- and transmission-oil cooler, and brake-cooling ducts as standard equipment".

Chrysler Jeep Dodge wasn't going to be left out, featuring SRT8 hero performance models from all three of its brands. Expansion of the SRT vehicle lineup for 2012 model year sees 300C, Charger, Challenger and Grand Cherokee SRT8s all on sale now in the USA.

All SRT8 models are powered by a naturally-aspirated 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 powertrain rated at over 470kW and 630Nm. Though the Charger SRT8 Super Bee was this correspondent's pick of the bunch, of special interest to most Aussies will be the Grand Cherokee and 300C, both of which will come Down Under.

Jeep says the GC SRT8 is its highest performing vehicle ever, accelerating 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds and covering the quarter mile in the "mid-13 second range". Top speed is around 260km/h and the maker claims it can pull almost 1g laterally on a skidpan.

The latest Chrysler 300 SRT8 is even quicker, says its maker… "Performance numbers include 0-60 mph acceleration in the high 4-second range; quarter mile in high 12-second range; 0-100-0 mph in less than 16 seconds, top speed of 175 mph [281km/h] and stopping power from 60-0 mph in 120 feet".

The SRT8 range's new 6.4-litre V8 is up around 34kW and 65Nm on the 6.1-litre engine it replaces. CJD claims it's more fuel efficient.

The SRT8 models do not, however, get the eight-speed auto set for most of the 300C and Grand Cherokee line-up. The existing five-speed auto is retained with shift paddles for the first time on the SUV.

Both models roll on 20-inch wheels.

It wasn't only the Detroit three that displayed muscle at LA Motor Show. Taking pride of place at the Mercedes-Benz stand were the latest AMGs: ML 63 and a red hot (paintwise anyway) C 63 AMG Black Series coupe. An SLS Roadster was almost invisible in its company.

More LA Motor Show news on motoring.com.au

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