In the age of hybrids and EVs, Ford and Chevrolet remained locked in a contest of muscle cars, with the Chevy Camaro currently outselling the Ford Mustang. Ford, however, is fighting back with the weapon of energy efficiency, announcing that the 2011 Mustang will get more than 30 mpg exceed 300 hp, an industry first.

The Mustang, outfitted with a 3.7-liter V6 paired to a six-speed automatic transmission pumps out 305 hp, but has still been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency at 31 mpg highway and 19 city.

The Camaro sports a 3.6-liter V6 producing 304 hp, but returns only 29 mpg on the open road. As a point of comparison, the Lexus RX 450h hybrid, which has a 3.5-liter V6, can generate 295 hp for an EPA rating of 32 mpg city and 28 highway.

In the important muscle car sector, an aspect of the American auto market where imports have not made an appreciable impact, the Camaro has topped Mustang sales for the past nine months. In February, General Motors moved 6,482 units compared to Ford sales of 5,115 Mustangs.

In a statement about the 2011 Mustang, Derrick Kuzak, vice president of global product development at Ford said, "At no other time in Mustang's history -- for that matter, in automotive history -- have we been able to talk about 305 horsepower and 31 mpg. The Mustang truly is a no-compromises sports car."