BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Birmingham's

. today unveiled its third-generation Hellcat motorcycle, with a price tag that starts at $45,000.

"This is the motorcycle we were conceived to execute when I founded the company 21 years ago,"

Matthews Chambers

, the company's founder and CEO, said in a statement. "I have every confidence that we have delivered all we ever dreamed of giving."

Confederate Motors said it already has more than 40 orders for the X132 Hellcat, and the company said it is set to begin production in January at a rate of two units per week. Pricing is set at $45,000 through Feb. 29, 2012. The price will rise to $49,500 on March 1, 2012. Orders may be placed

.

The bike is named after the F6F Hellcat fighter plane of World War II.

Confederate Motors said the X132 Hellcat has special design touches, including a billet aluminum case. Instead of the usual casting method, the Hellcat's case is machined from two blocks of billet 6061 aircraft grade aluminum.

"Although this is the most expensive material selection and craft methodology, it is simply the best approach for maximizing strength and guaranteeing permanence," Chambers said.