GM News: Next Corvette to have split window, Holden to be imported with police package?

With all the retro craze that's been infecting the automotive world in past years, it seems only inevitable that Chevrolet would bring back one of it's most iconic tidbits of styling: the split window.

Ed Welburn has reportedly told Inside Line that C7 'vette will indeed possess a split window, previously only seen on the 1963 model. What the next Corvette will not be, however, is the car featured in Transformers and it will not be mid engine.

In other future model news, GM appears to still be planning to bring the Holden Commodore to the states with a special police package. In spite of the Pontiac G8, along with all other Pontiacs being canned. GM chief Fritz Henderson has been quoted as saying: "We've been working on a package for police applications. I just think that's going to work. We're pretty optimistic about it and that product will be sourced in Australia."

While this still doesn't help out the many U.S. fans of Holden and the G8 a whole lot, it at least means that maybe in the next couple of years you will be able to buy a used one at your local police vehicle auction.

Jim Wanger and Big 3 Performance team up for restomod Pontiac GTO

Jim Wangers is a name familiar to those that worship the GTO. He was Pontiac's chief marketing manager when the GTO was first released in 1964. And now his name and endorsement are behind a new restomod based on the 1969 Pontiac GTO.

Appearance wise, changes are minor as they should be with such iconic styling. Wider hood scoops and a Trans-Am style ducktail spoiler round it out. Inside, a custom dash and audio system join embroidered Recaro seats and GPS navigation. Holding it all up is a custom chassis fitted with Corvette parts and a Ford 9 inch rear.

The good stuff is naturally under the hood. 505 cubic inches of Pontiac V8 churn out an estimated 700 horsepower and is backed up by a six speed sourced from the Dodge Viper. Cost of the build is expected to be around $130,000. Combining a mostly stock appearance with loads of modern power sounds like a recipe for success to us, at any price.

2010 Hurst Mustang makes it's debut

The 2010 Hurst Mustang has arrived in pictures, and it's a real looker. The car features a familiar white with gold stripes paint scheme and matching wheels. It will pace the Mustang Challenge race complete with the reqiusite supercharger, this one supplied by Roush, helping the car put out 435 horsepower. And much like the Iacocca Mustang, this one will be rare as well with only 50 examples being produced.


PRESS RELEASE

HURST PERFORMANCE ANNOUNCES

LIMITED EDITION MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE PACE CAR SERIES

BFGoodrich/Hurst Mustang Makes Debut as Official Pace Car at Ford Racing Mustang Challenge

Irvine, Calif. (September 23, 2009) – Hurst Performance, a company responsible for some of the most iconic and collectible pace cars in racing history, announced today that it will build 50 limited production replicas of its supercharged BF Goodrich/Hurst 2010 Mustang Pace Car.

The original BF Goodrich/Hurst Mustang made its debut as the official pace car at the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge race on Sept. 19.

"Hurst has a unique place in the world of pace cars," said Ron Flint, President of Hurst Performance Vehicles. "We are privileged to honor Hurst's history and again build cars that are fun to collect and even more fun to drive."

The stunning limited production Hurst Mustang Pace Cars feature massive 20" Hurst polished, forged aluminum wheels with gold painted center spokes wrapped in BFGoodrich g-Force™ KDW tires for maximum performance.

The cars are distinctive, with painted gold racing stripes and official "Pace Car" logos on white. Each car has a special white convertible top, boot and interior. The exterior delivers HURST identity with subtle detailing and features including real metal badges and a unique HURST AIR-SPEED® rear deck spoiler.

The gold HURST T-handle shifter is the centerpiece of the interior for both manual and automatic cars and the seats and floor mats feature the famous Hurst gold and black "H" logos.

Handling and attitude are provided by Eibach, with Hurst-tuned coil over shocks, springs and sway bars. Under the hood, the supercharged engine pounds out 435+ horsepower and over 400 lb.-ft of torque with Magnaflow custom-tuned stainless steel performance exhaust finishing off the sound and performance statement with authority.

Each limited edition production car comes with a commemorative edition etched metal dash badge, autographed signatures from the Hurst Team in the trunk and a Certificate of Authenticity confirming its collectability and provenance. Every Hurst buyer is invited to take delivery at the Hurst Performance Center in Irvine, California to meet our team and tour the facility.

Vehicles are available for purchase immediately with first deliveries in October. MSRP Pricing for the HURST/Mustang Pace Car Series Convertibles is $36,450.00 above the cost of the base Mustang GT or Premium GT Convertible. Please visit www.hurst-performance.com or call 949/261-5500 to order your car or make inquiries.

Now that its run with the Ford Mustang Racing Challenge is over, the unique and highly-collectible original Pace Car will make special appearances at numerous race tracks, car shows, parades and even SEMA, before being auctioned for charity at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in January 2010.

Proceeds of the auction will go towards benefiting the newest Victory Junction Camp in Kansas City, KS to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. The vehicle was generously donated by Woodhouse Auto family of Blair, Nebraska with many of Hurst's suppliers joining in to donate parts and services for this very worthy cause.