When it comes to bragging rights between Camaro and Mustang owners, the Ford guys currently have the advantage, at least when it’s concerning the base V-6 models.

The base 2011 Ford Mustang has been fitted with a brand new 3.7-liter V-6 engine developing 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque but better yet, the car is also the first production car in the world with more than 300 horsepower and a fuel economy in excess of 30 mpg (highway figures). By comparison, the 3.6-liter V-6 in the base 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has 304 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on tap and returns a high fuel economy of 29 mpg.

While Chevrolet may not be able to beat Ford for fuel economy, the brand’s marketing manager, John Fitzpatrick, has hinted to Automobile Magazine that the Mustang’s slight power advantage may not last long. When asked if Chevrolet was prepared to respond to the horsepower challenge laid down by Ford in the next couple of years, Fitzpatrick said "you might see it sooner than that" noting that details on the new 2011 Chevrolet Camaro will arrive in a few weeks.

To see how the two current cars compete, at least on paper, check out our comparison report by clicking here.

[Automobile Magazine]