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It’s a popular narrative: the upcoming 2024 Ford Mustang looks a lot like the 2023 Chevy Camaro. While there may be some truth to the jest, the two are very different cars. Still, how do the two ships-passing-in-the-night stack up against each other? Is the doomed Chevy Camaro no match for the upcoming generation of Ford Mustang? 

What’s the most powerful 2023 Chevy Camaro?

The outgoing Chevrolet Camaro is no joke. At the top of the Camaro’s trim offerings, the track-ready ZL1 produces 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque from its supercharged 6.2L V8. While that’s not quite up to Dodge Hellcat or Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 numbers, the ZL1 is a dedicated track-day weapon with features like adaptive dampers, drive modes, and aggressive aero. Better yet, the ZL1 1LE package takes the Camaro to new handling heights, with wider, stickier tires and adjustable suspension. 

The 2023 Chevrolet Camaro is a natural rival for the incoming 2024 Ford Mustang.
A Chevrolet Camaro | General Motors

Unfortunately for Ford Mustang fans, the new S650-generation Ford Mustang’s lineup is a bit limited until new cars join after the 2024 model year. For now, Ford only offers a turbocharged 2.3L EcoBoost, a 5.0L GT, the scalpel-sharp 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, and Premium variations. Of course, Ford will likely include aesthetic and performance options like the  California Special moving forward. Better yet, the upcoming GT will be the most powerful Ford Mustang GT ever, and it doesn’t have far to overpower the outgoing 455-horsepower 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS.

How much will a 2024 Ford Mustang cost?

The upcoming 2024 Ford Mustang’s price ranges are estimates for now, but Car and Driver thinks they’ll start at similar points to the outgoing S550-generation car. The 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost will likely start at around $30,000, with the EcoBoost Premium starting at about $35,000. Further up the trim offerings, the V8-powered GT will likely start at around $40,000, the GT Premium at $45,000, and the track-ready Dark Horse will probably cost around $55,000. 

The new 2024 Ford Mustang shares a couple of design cues with the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro.
2024 Ford Mustang | Ford

Compared to the Mustang, the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro has eight trim levels to the Mustang’s current five and starts at a lower projected price point. The cheapest Camaro in the lineup is the 1LS, which is available with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and optional naturally aspirated six-cylinder powerplant. The 1LS starts at $27,495, similar to the Ford Mustang EcoBoost’s $30,000 estimate. 

Is 2023 the last year for the Chevy Camaro?

The 2023 Chevy Camaro is not quite a swansong vehicle for the namesake as it might precede a 2024 model before discontinuation. Chevrolet and the rest of General Motors’ (GM’s) marques are discontinuing gas-powered vehicles to electrify. It’s not just the Camaro, either; Dodge is discontinuing the Challenger after its “Last Call” celebratory models. 

However, in an act of industry defiance, Ford unveiled another generation with the gas-powered 2024 Ford Mustang, codenamed S650. Furthermore, if the S650 is anything like the outgoing S550, it might run for seven or more years. 

Should you buy a 2023 Chevy Camaro or the upcoming 2024 Ford Mustang?

The Chevy Camaro is a capable, quick alternative to the Ford Mustang. Furthermore, the Camaro is one of the last of its kind, and the 2024 Mustang is the first model year of the last gas-powered generation of Ford pony car. Despite some similarities in styling, the two are very different vehicles. Still, if the outgoing Camaro doesn’t move you, the new Mustang has a fully revised interior, a library of strong engines, and the likelihood of more special editions like Shelby or Bullitt. 

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