There was a time when an American muscle car release was front-page material. Sadly, given today’s economic problems, and specifically those of the auto industry, less people are paying attention to upcoming car releases. Frankly, we think it’s a damn shame.

While our bias is always towards Chevy, there are some awesome cars being released across the board these days. One such car: the 2010 Ford Mustang. We’ve long preferred the Camaro to the Mustang (does anyone care to remember those horrible Escort-like ponies of the 1980s) – but Ford has upped their game.

Let’s put the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT2 Coupe head-to-head with the 2010 Ford Mustang V6 Premium Coupe:

2010 Chevy Camaro | Image Courtesy of Car and Driver

Price: Ford wins. The Mustang starts at $23,995 compared to a $26,580 sticker for the Chevy.

Body Styling: We’re giving this one to Chevy. Oddly, the 2010 Camaro looks more like a Mustang than any previous model. But thankfully, it has a subtle touch of Viper – which is awesome. The 2010 Mustang isn’t radically different from previous years, but we see a hint of Datsun in the rear styling – which we’re kind of cool with.

2010 Ford Mustang | Image Courtesy of Car and Driver

Engine: Camaro all the way. The LT2 sports 298hp@6300rpm in a 3.6L V6. The Mustang, though lighter overall, can’t compete with its 210hp@5300rpm in a 4.0L V6.

Interior: The Camaro by a hair. The Chevy has slightly less headroom with a bit more legroom – but overall, the Chevy’s interior just feels cooler. (It’s worth noting that when things seem “cooler”, they tend to get old fast. Perhaps the simple interior of the Ford will better stand the test of time.)

Performance: The jury is still out…stay tuned. (The smart money is on Chevy.)

Features: It’s a wash. Ford has finally caught up for 2010, adding Bluetooth connectivity, an MP3 dock, and other features that were noticeably absent in past models.

What the Auto Critics are Saying:

“The new Mustang now offers better road manners and a vastly improved interior, but the underpinnings are very familiar.” -Car and Driver, 2010 Ford Mustang review

“The ride quality of the Camaro doesn’t even rate a comparison with the lesser Mustang, and it makes the Challenger’s handling feel plodding.” - Car and Driver, 2010 Chevrolet Camaro review

Final Thoughts: Though it may have seemed a foregone conclusion – we have to name the 2010 Camaro winner overall.