Automotive history & the return of rear wheel driveChrysler made automotive history with the return of the dodge charger as a rear wheel drive sports car. The moment this car hit the showroom floor it was selling like hot cakes. The car was also developed into a police interceptor package and has sold quite well to local law enforcement agencies. The rest of the industry not wanting Chrysler to re write history alone started designing new models with old names that featured the return to rear wheel drive.
If you are like me you may miss the old days when the only front wheel drive cars where Japanese. It was a sad day in automotive history when the American car manufactures bailed on the rear wheel drive standard and started chasing foreign carmakers on the front wheel drive program.
The death of the muscle car was the first result of the front wheel drive take over. Yes I know there are fast front wheel drive cars out on the road. But have you ever done a smokey burn out in one? The torque steer and wheel hop takes all the fun out of it. So what cars will be making history in the near future? Well to my surprise the leader in the next wave of rear wheel drive cars will be General Motors.
A series of vehicles based on the zeta platform that was designed and built by GM’s Australian Holden partnership will be racing to the marketplace to stake their claim on automotive history.
These cars will have optional v8 power supplied by the 6.0-liter vortec. This engine in it's current form produces 362 horses 390 pound feet of torque. With the new 6 speed automatic or optional 6 speed manual transmission and rear wheel drive, tire-smoking performance will be guaranteed.
All though the Pontiac version of the vehicle will not be the firebird or trans am. Pontiac’s rear wheel drive entry will continue Pontiac’s naming strategy and will wear the G8 badge.
Rear wheel drive Camaro
The Impala will also return to its rear wheel drive roots and be offered as a police package, as well as the return of the Impala SS. Fords rear wheel drive carsAs for Ford I must give them credit they always understood the value of the rear wheel drive car and never ditched the Mustang even when sales where low. But they will add to their line up with the new Lincoln MKR. The MKR will make automotive history and will provide neck-breaking performance with the first american car to carry a twin turbo. The 3.5-liter v6 is rated at 415-horse power and should move the light car very well.
Ford has also unveiled their new Interceptor concept car that is slated to replace the aging Crown Victoria but maintain the Crown Vics strong frame and rear wheel drive configuration.
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