The first half of 2026 has solidified a definitive split in the American performance landscape, revealing a sharp contrast in consumer preferences between internal combustion and battery-electric solutions. Through the month of June, sales data showcases a resounding triumph for the suck-squeeze-bang-blow crowd, especially when it comes to Ford Mustang sales.

    

Ford's decision to preserve V8 muscle paid substantial dividends when compared to its closest rival, that being the I6-engined Charger from Dodge. In the first six months of the year, Ford retailers moved 28,725 units compared to 23,551 during the same period of 2025. Over at Stellantis, the Charger with internal combustion racked up 4,583 and 1,630 sales, respectively.