The Callaway Camaro SC600 is the most powerful street legal 2016 available. Production begins in the first quarter of this year.

The competition between the Chevy Camaro and the Ford Mustang isn’t just about sales. It’s about style, history and horsepower. Plenty of aftermarket firms tweak the pony cars looking to extract more and more horsepower and bragging rights in the process.

However, the real key is to get as many ponies for your pony car as possible while still being able to drive it on America’s highways and byways. When it comes to the Camaro, famous car customizer Callaway Cars has that problem solved as it claims its Callaway Camaro SC600 is the most powerful street legal 2016 Camaro available.

“The 2016 Camaro is a superb car that’s light, nimble and fun to drive,” said Reeves Callaway, founder and CEO of Callaway Cars. “We designed the Callaway Camaro SC600 to deliver an even more driver-focused experience for those seeking even more power. Using the TripleCooled technology we developed for the Corvette Z06, we created the most powerful Callaway Camaro available today.”

The 600-plus horsepower Camaro can be ordered through selected Callaway Chevrolet dealers in North America. Production is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2016 and pricing starts at $54,290, which includes the base Camaro SS.

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The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat puts out 707 horsepower.

With the patented Callaway GenThree supercharger package, cooling system and styling, the limited edition Callaway Camaro SC600 is a 600-plus horsepower street-legal muscle car that leverages technologies developed for Callaway’s SC757 Corvette Z06.

Callaway engineers know that maximizing power means keeping inlet air temperature cool. Callaway’s unique triple-element intercooler configuration provides significantly lower and better managed inlet charge air temperatures than single or dual-element designs.

“While we engineered a complete package that enhances the new car’s performance, our GenThree supercharger is the heart of the Callaway Camaro SC600,” said Mike Zoner, managing director of Callaway Cars.

The supercharger housing extends up through the hood, exposing it to outside ambient airflow and its benefit of convective heat transfer. This makes the supercharger visible without opening the hood as heat is extracted from the engine compartment by natural flow.

“The supercharger assembly is not cramped below the hood because we wouldn’t compromise performance or reliability,” said Callaway. “Our manifold maintains consistent charge air temperatures with exceptionally low restriction.

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“Plus, we achieve even airflow distribution to all cylinders. The result is a broad torque band and more consistent power delivery during extreme driving, unlike traditional under-hood installations. Every Callaway Camaro maintains the factory GM warranty and is supplemented by Callaway’s powertrain coverage.”

The Callaway Camaro SC600 can be purchased with either an automatic or manual transmission; it is also available as a coupe or convertible. However, even with all of that specialized horsepower, it still puts the Camaro not just in second place behind its long-time rival, the Mustang – in this case the Roush Stage 3 Mustang – but also behind the 707-hp Dodge Challenger Hellcat.

The Roush Mustang puts out 670 hp from a supercharged 5.0-liter V8: the base 5.0 puts out 435 hp and once Roush slaps on its 2.3-liter TVS supercharger, it adds another 235 hp. Speed aficionados can get this extra oomph for just $22,590 … above the price of the Mustang GT that Roush starts with.

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However, they’re all behind the aforementioned 6.2-liter V8-powered Hellcat. In fact, they fail in both power. The Hellcat has the Roush Mustang by 37 hp and it costs less than $50,000. MSRP for the 2016 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is $64,195, which includes $1,700 gas guzzler tax, excluding $995 destination.