Two of the biggest rivals in the automotive world will set aside their differences next year, as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro are due share the same transmission.
Although this isn’t the first time GM and Ford have worked together as the 2016 Ford Raptor uses a GM-engineered gearbox, it’s certainly the first time the Mustang and Camaro will share technology.
According to reports, from next year the Camaro ZL1 will be the first of eight vehicles to use GM’s newest Hydra-Matic automatic gearbox, with some versions of the Mustang expected to get it in 2018.
Hydra-Matic gearbox
Jointly developed in conjunction with Ford, the ten-speed Hydra-Matic was developed at the same time as the nine-speed gearbox used in the Ford Raptor and several upcoming GM pickups.
One of the most bitter and longstanding rivalries, the feud between the Mustang and the Camaro began as soon as Chevrolet realised what an unprecedented hit Ford’s pony car was.
Three years after the first Mustang took the world by storm, Chevy sought to outdo it with the Camaro, leading to an ever-escalating horsepower war between the two companies.
Camaro v Mustang
The tit-for-tat fight between the two cars led to hyperbolically powerful cars like the 'big-block' Camaros, Boss Mustangs and more than a few fistfights between drivers on drag nights.
Half a century later and the war still rages on, with Ford engineering cars like the new Shelby GT350R and GM responding in kind with high-horsepower efforts like the new ZL1.
As a result, the news that the two will collaborate on shared components has shocked many muscle car fans, as well as some employees from both General Motors and Ford.
Same components, different character
Even Gale Halderman, who helped refine the look of the very first Mustang, told Autonews: “It is surprising. Back in my time, we couldn't even talk to anybody from GM.”
However, Ford engineer Craig Renneker, stressed: “We will each use our own control software to ensure that each transmission is carefully matched to the individual, brand-specific vehicle DNA for each company.”
Even still, for many the news will come as a strange pill to swallow. What’s next, dogs and cats living together? Mass hysteria!