Chrysler to phase out Hemi and go green?

While the popularity of muscle cars is high, most people realize that we can't keep burning oil like it's 1970 again. Today's muscle is much more refined, and modern technologies have produced some seriously powerful engines that are more efficient than ever.

Chrysler's Hemi engines are a blast from the past, a reminder of the good old days when power was our only concern. But is Chrysler beginning to shy away from the legendary moniker in order to change its image? The Wall Street Journal thinks so.

WSJ is reporting that Chrysler will indeed try to change the way its Hemi brand is perceived, but not necessarily its presence in their vehicles. The mighty V8's Multi-Displacement System is certain to receive more press, and the company will begin pushing its new V6. In other words, you can still get a Hemi, but for how long?

Autoblog drives the Hurst Hemi Challenger

Well, somewhat of a first drive. Although they were limited to 25 mph, the folks at Autoblog were able to obtain some opinions on what makes the car tick.

The speed limitation was due to the fact that the car still wears prototype wheels, in all their retro glory. The car itself is a nice homage to Hurst's glorious history of making shifters as well as the Hurst Olds of the 1970's. The gold and white package complete the package.

For the complete and somewhat limited, driving impressions, head over to Autoblog.

Hurst announces pricing and power numbers for Hurst HEMI Challenger

Seeing the Hurst HEMI Challenger conjures up warm and fuzzy memories of the original Hurst cars with it's iconic name and white paint scheme with golden stripes. It's great to see the brand living in it's former glory. It makes one nostalgic for the brand, and almost for the original Hurst girl, Linda Vaughn. But alas, not all ages well so we'll move on from that thought.

The Hurst/Hemi Challenger was revealed at last month's SEMA in Las Vegas, and now we have some goods on it. There are 4 stages of tune for the Challenger, which are numbered 2 through 5. Series 2 will add $18,350 to the price of a donated Challenger R/T, which means putting a Hurst Challenger in your driveway will cost at least $48,895. For that sum, you'll get 352 horses, 20-inch alloys and a special paint and graphics kit. Maxing things out will get you a Series 5 SRT8 Hurst Challenger with 572 raging ponies courtesy of a Vortech supercharged 6.1L HEMI V8... all for a cost of $75,395.

The great maker of all things shifty offered it's first special edition muscle car in 1968 with the Hurst Olds. Most of it's vehicles have gone on to become valuable collector's items, and the new Challenger looks to be no exception. See the press release below for more detailed information, and to see how much you will have to spend to snatch your new Hurst.

Source: Hurst Performance]

PRESS RELEASE

HURST PERFORMANCE VEHICLES ANNOUNCES 2009 HURST/HEMI-CHALLENGER SERIES DETAILS AND PRICING INFORMATION

Legendary Performance Brand Unveils New Details about Latest Limited Edition Muscle Machine

Irvine, Calif. (December 10, 2008) - Hurst Performance Vehicles, one of the most recognized and revered names in automobile history, announces today series details and pricing for its new 2009 HURST/Hemi®-Challenger. The HURST/Hemi®-Challenger, which debuted earlier this year at the SEMA Show, is more than just another muscle car. It epitomizes the performance industry's tradition of taking the best Detroit has to offer and adding 21st century performance parts to make your ride faster, cooler and more collectible.

"We are very excited to release production information and pricing details for the HURST/Hemi®-Challenger Performance Series," said Nate Shelton, Chairman of Hurst Performance. "We are ready to begin production and accept orders of this highly anticipated collector vehicle."

The HURST/Hemi®-Challenger is available in five performance stages. Series 2 vehicles are available through participating Dodge dealers nationwide, while Series 3, 4 and 5 vehicles are only available from Hurst Performance Vehicles and can be ordered via the company's website at www.hurst-performance.com. Hurst Performance packages do not include the base price of the vehicle which could be purchased through participating dealers. The following pricing information does not include the RT or S/RT8 base vehicle:

HURST/Hemi®-Challenger Series 2 R/T 5.7 – MSRP $18,350.00
HORSEPOWER 352 HP*
TORQUE 408 ft/lb*


Hurst "HARD-DRIVE®" shifter
Hurst 20" polished forged wheels
HURST Exterior graphics and badges
HURST Limited Edition sequentially numbered dash badge
Goodyear EAGLE F-1 performance tires
Magnaflow stainless-steel cat-back exhaust
K&N Air Filter
Eibach Coil-over Adjustable Suspension
Hurst leather interior with gold top-stitching and embroidered logo
Hurst rear spoiler
Limited Colors: Black or White only with HURST Gold racing stripes
Matching color car cover with HURST Gold racing stripes

Series 2 SRT8 6.1 – MSRP $17,450.00
HORSEPOWER 437 HP*
TORQUE 438 ft/lb*


Hurst "HARD-DRIVE®" shifter
Hurst 20" polished forged wheels
HURST Exterior graphics and badges
HURST Limited Edition sequentially numbered dash badge
Magnaflow stainless-steel cat-back exhaust
K&N Air Filter
Eibach Coil-over Adjustable Suspension
Hurst leather interior with gold top-stitching and embroidered logo
Hurst rear spoiler
Limited Colors: Black or White only with HURST Gold racing stripes
Matching color car cover with HURST Gold racing stripes

Series 3 R/T 5.7 – MSRP $26,750.00
HORSEPOWER 444 HP*
TORQUE 489 ft/lb*


Hurst "HARD-DRIVE®" shifter
Hurst 20" polished forged wheels
HURST Exterior graphics and badges
HURST Limited Edition sequentially numbered dash badge
Goodyear EAGLE F-1 performance tires
Magnaflow stainless-steel cat-back exhaust
K&N Air Filter
Eibach Coil-over Adjustable Suspension
Hurst leather interior with gold top-stitching and embroidered logo
Hurst rear spoiler
Limited Colors: Black or White only with HURST Gold racing stripes
Vortech Supercharger
Matching color car cover with HURST Gold racing stripes
Factory delivery

Series 4 SRT8 6.1 – MSRP $25,150.00
HORSEPOWER 572 HP*
TORQUE 528 ft/lb*

Hurst "HARD-DRIVE®" shifter
Hurst 20" polished forged wheels
HURST Exterior graphics and badges; fenders, grille and rear fascia
HURST Limited Edition sequentially numbered dash badge
Magnaflow stainless-steel cat-back exhaust
K&N Air Filter
Eibach Coil-over Adjustable Suspension
Hurst leather interior with gold top-stitching and embroidered logo
Hurst rear spoiler
Limited Color: Black only with HURST Gold racing stripes
Vortech Supercharger
Matching color car cover with HURST Gold racing stripes
Factory delivery

Series 5 SRT8 6.1 – MSRP $33,150.00
HORSEPOWER 572 HP*
TORQUE 528 ft/lb*


Hurst "HARD-DRIVE®" shifter
Hurst 20" polished forged wheels
HURST Exterior graphics and badges; fenders, grille and rear fascia
HURST Limited Edition sequentially numbered dash badge
Magnaflow stainless-steel cat-back exhaust
K&N Air Filter
Eibach Coil-over Adjustable Suspension
Hurst leather interior with gold top-stitching and embroidered logo
Hurst rear spoiler
HURST Gold racing stripes
Vortech Supercharger
Matching color car cover with HURST Gold racing stripes
Limited Color: Custom White Pearl with HURST Gold racing stripes
Factory delivery
*Estimated horsepower and torque

About Hurst Performance
Founded in 1958, Hurst Performance is one of the most recognized and revered names in the automotive performance arena. The Hurst brand has long been synonymous with speed, performance and quality, with an impressive track-record of pioneering high performance products and vehicles for all forms of motorsports and hot-rodding. Hurst was one of the first specialty companies to partner with the OEMs and bring enthusiasts limited edition performance vehicles like the legendary Hurst/Olds 442. For more information please visit www.hurstperformancevehicles.com.

Hurst Hemi Challenger

We've got lots and lots of great concepts to bring you over the next few days, all coming to us from the opus known as SEMA. Today we have the Hurst Hemi Challenger, a bit of a nod to the retro side of life.

George Hurst's mission was to make hot rods for gentlemen. The new Hurst, in the body of the new Challenger, has carried on George's mission admirably.

It's available in four levels, from a 5.7-liter HEMI Challenger to a fire-breathing 6.1-liter supercharged HEMI underneath a MOPAR hood. And when you get to those upper reaches, then you can avail yourself of that Hurst paint job and a car that will do those mammoth wheels justice. We were told the Stage 4 puts out 530 hp at the rear wheels. Which means the car will be waiting for you to it justice as well.

Check out the press release below.

PRESS RELEASE

Chatsworth, California - HURST is one of the most recognized and revered names in the history of performance automobiles. The HURST brand has long been synonymous with speed, performance and quality, with an impressive track-record of pioneering performance products for all forms of motorsports and hot-rodding. HURST was one of the first to partner with the OEMs and bring enthusiasts limited edition performance vehicles like the legendary HURST/Olds 442.

HURST is at it again! The newest creation to be rolled out to continue the tradition is the 2009 HURST/HEMI® Challenger. Starting with the HEMI® powered Dodge Challenger SRT8, HURST takes it to the next level as a 500+ HP supercharged limited edition built and tuned by the best in the business.

Nate Shelton, Chairman of HURST, is committed to delivering the value that HURST is known for; "The new HURST/HEMI® Challenger is more than just another muscle car. It epitomizes the performance industries tradition of taking the best Detroit has to offer and adding 21st century performance parts to make your ride faster and cooler than the other guys. HURST has a long history of doing just that with guys like Don Garlits, Warren Johnson, Dick Landy and even celebrity racers Steve McQueen and Jim Garner. The new HURST/HEMI® Challenger is the first of many HURST Performance Vehicles to come. We are ready to make some more history."

HURST has partnered with some of the best companies in the industry to create a collectible limited edition muscle car with the looks, attitude and credentials to back it up. The HURST/HEMI® Challenger will be available in four Stages of performance trim through participating Dodge dealerships. The details are iconic and impressive; the huge polished five-spoke HURST alloy wheels and the "Pistol-Grip" HURST shifter are inspired by the originals that helped make HURST the legendary brand that it is today.

HURST Performance Vehicles Program Director Ron Flint adds "The legacy of the HURST brand gives us a huge advantage and it sets the bar very high for our team. Our goal is simple; create serious driveway-envy in your neighborhood."

The HURST/HEMI® Challenger makes its debut at the trade-only SEMA Show in Las Vegas this November. Vehicle production is slated for early 2009.

2009 HURST/HEMI® CHALLENGER

SERIES 1
R/T 5.7 HEMI®
Hurst "Pistol-Grip" shifter
Hurst 20" polished forged wheels
HURST Exterior graphics and badges
SERIES 1 sequentially numbered interior dash plaque
BFG KDW high-performance tires
Magnaflow Stainless-steel exhaust system
Eibach Suspension
Bilstein shocks
K&N Air Filter
Colors: Any color
No stripes or graphics

SERIES 2
R/T 5.7 HEMI®
Hurst "Pistol-Grip" shifter
Hurst 20" polished forged wheels
HURST Exterior graphics and badges
BFG KDW high-performance tires
Magnaflow Stainless-steel exhaust system
Eibach Suspension
Bilstein shocks
K&N Air Intake system
MOPAR/Kicker Audio System
SERIES 2 sequentially numbered interior dash plaque
Hurst leather interior with gold top-stitching and embroidered logos
Available Colors are White and Black
Hurst Gold hood graphics