America's Gas-Powered Sports Cars in 2026: Fewer Names, Far More Power
Since our 2024 list the Camaro and Challenger are gone, but the Corvette ZR1 makes 1,064 hp and Ford builds a Mustang for more than $300,000.
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In May 2024 we listed five new American sports cars with combustion engines. Two years later the field is smaller, as Chevrolet's Camaro and Dodge's Challenger ended production at the turn of 2024, yet the cars that remain are more powerful than anything Detroit has built before.
Chevrolet Corvette
The Corvette now spans a wider range than ever. Above the Z06 sits the ZR1, with a twin-turbo V8 making 1,064 hp, a claimed top speed of 233 mph and quarter-mile runs of 9.6 seconds; it starts at $174,995 including destination, according to Chevrolet. The hybrid ZR1X adds electric front-wheel drive for 1,250 hp combined and starts at $207,395, Ford Authority reported.
Ford Mustang
The Shelby GT500 from our 2024 list had in fact already left production. Its place at the top has gone to the Mustang GTD, a road car developed alongside Ford's GT3 racer, with an 815-hp supercharged V8 and a price well over $300,000. In 2026 Ford added the Dark Horse SC, with 795 hp, from $103,490.
Cadillac and Hennessey
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing remains one of the last American sedans with a supercharged V8 and an available manual gearbox. At the extreme end, Hennessey's Venom F5 Revolution Roadster makes 1,817 hp; just 12 were planned, at $3 million each, according to Motor Authority.
| Output | Starting price | |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 | 1,064 hp | $174,995 |
| Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X | 1,250 hp (hybrid) | $207,395 |
| Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC | 795 hp | $103,490 |
| Ford Mustang GTD | 815 hp | Over $300,000 |
| Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Roadster | 1,817 hp | $3 million |
Our read
American performance cars have moved upmarket. The affordable V8 coupes that once defined the segment are largely gone, and what remains costs six figures and makes supercar power. For enthusiasts with a normal budget, the regular Mustang and Corvette Stingray are now the entry tickets to a class that has left the rest of the market behind.
