Sure, the LA Auto Show is typically characterized as the “green car” event, but for muscle car enthusiasts, the event is downright exciting this year. On hand at the LA Convention Center are the 580-hp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and 650-hp Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. And from Dodge? A couple yellow cars.

Sure, the Dodge brand has a history of flamboyant muscle cars, with wild pink, purple, green, and other eye-popping hues from the pre-disco era that have been revitalized through the years. But, when cross-town rivals threw down the gauntlet this week, Dodge turned yellow with its special-edition Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee and Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket.

To be fair, these cars are still way cool. (And they would be a cinch to spot in a parking lot.) Beyond monikers pulled from the Mopar historical catalog, each is fitted with a 470-hp, 6.4-liter V8 engine whose torque alone can practically push the driver back in time. But 470 horsepower just doesn’t seem as mind-blowing now as it did just a few years ago.

From a practical standpoint, is there really a need for any more power?

Having had an opportunity to flog recent SRT8 examples on the track, they have not left me wanting for power. They possess all the growl, rumble, and athleticism that one could ever hope to harness in the real world, and they are extremely entertaining on the track thanks to the full-car transformation from the SRT performance mavens.

With the heritage nod these special editions provide, perhaps it is fair for Dodge to declare “enough is enough.” Still, that Shelby GT500 is fueling my latest automotive fantasies…

Related:
Pricing: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 starts at $54,995
2011 LA Auto Show: 2013 Ford Mustang - Freshened styling, more horsepower
2011 LA Auto Show: 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with 650 hp