Originally scheduled for use in the SRT and Ram Heavy Duty pickups, a newly developed 6.4-liter V8 gasoline engine is now only headed for high-performance car duty. According to Joe Veltri, Chrysler’s VP of product development, the new engine is designed for high performance and not the sort of physical labor that a truck requires. While no specifics have been provided on the engine, it is believed that the 6.4-liter Hemi (which is set to replace the 6.1-liter Hemi) will get Fiat’s Multiair variable valve timing technology as well as cylinder deactivation to significantly improve fuel economy.

Instead, Chrysler appears to be looking at ways to improve the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 currently available to give it added capability. While Veltri sees a need for continued availability of a gasoline engine in the HD trucks, Chrysler is also currently in talks with Cummins to produce a smaller diesel engine that could be used in both the standard Ram 1500 models and as an alternative base engine in the heavy duty trucks.

Being that Chrysler is now owned by Fiat and the importance European automakers place on diesel technology, we expect to see more diesels pop up in the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep range in the future. A while it’s still not likely that diesel cars will catch on in North America, more diesel engines on the truck side could help Chrysler to become a more competitive player with the other big-two.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

With the debut of its Series 4 Supercharged Challenger at the Woodward Dream Cruise, Hurst Performance decided to bring back the company’s classic silver and black color combo. The limited edition silver and black cars come with a metallic red Hard-Drive pistol grip Hurst shifter, 20-inch one-piece Hurst wheels and a custom Hurst/Katzkin interior with red inserts, red stitching and red logos. In addition each car will get Hurst red and black logos on the dash and grille with badging on the wheel center caps and embroidered logos on the floor mats.

All Performance Series cars get Hurst’s Air-Speed rear spoiler, an Eibach suspension as well as new shocks and sway bars, a Magnaflow catback exhaust, BF Goodrich KDW tires and K&N air filters. Series 3 through 5 get Vortech superchargers, with the Series 4 model shown here making 572hp and 528 ft-lbs of torque.

“We are honored to be here in Flint today to introduce the newest Hurst Executive Hot Rod,” said Hurst chairman Nate Shelton, who was joined by Hurst legend Doc Watson and Ron Flint of Hurst Performance Vheicle to unveil that car at the “Back to the Bricks” event in Flint, Michigan. “The Back to the Bricks celebration is the perfect place for us to join Doc and introduce this stunning car as a tribute to Hurst’s legacy.”

“I am proud to be part of the continuation of a great Hurst tradition.” said Watson. “These wonderful vehicles should prove to be some of the most collectible Hurst cars in the future.”

GALLERY: Series 4 Supercharged 2010 Hurst/HEMI Challenger

Official release after the jump:

For 2009, Chrysler has announced it will offer it’s first production Hybrids, the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hemi Hybrids. As the name would suggest, both are powered by environmentally-friendly gasoline-electric hybrid engines. Ironically, however, the gasoline engine is a 385hp 5.7-liter V-8.

40 PERCENT BETTER FUEL ECONOMY IN THE CITY

Chrysler doesn’t seem to see the irony, however, and is more interested in promoting the idea that it is possible to have a fully-functional SUV with a 6,000 lb towing capacity that is not AS bad for the Earth. And they do have a point, as the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hemi Hybrids are designed more for reduced fuel economy in the city. The Hybrid models are expected to have a 25 percent increase in fuel economy overall with a 40 percent increase in the city.

TWO-MODE HYBRID

Of note, the two SUVs use a new two-mode full hybrid system, which was developed in partnership with General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

In the first mode, the engine can operate in any of three different ways: electric power only, engine power only, or a combination of both. In the second mode, used for highway speeds, passing or towing, the full engine power is enabled as well as an electric assist.

Both the Aspen and Durango Hemi Hybrids will use a variable automatic transmission that automatically switches between the two modes.

One innovation that Chrysler has added to the two-mode system is that it can function with the company’s MDS system, which allows the engine to operate using all eight or just four cylinders.

Chrysler Aspen Hemi Hybrid

Official release after the jump: