Which car manufacturer is known for the Hemi engine?

Chrysler is the car manufacturer best known for the Hemi engine.

“Hemi” refers to a hemispherical combustion chamber, a design that places the spark plug near the chamber’s center and can improve airflow and combustion efficiency. Chrysler made the name famous with its high-performance V8 engines, especially the 426 Hemi used in muscle cars and racing during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Chrysler’s first-generation FirePower Hemi appeared in 1951. The company later revived the concept with the 426 Hemi, nicknamed the “Elephant” because of its large size and power. Modern Hemi engines, including the 5.7-liter version introduced for the 2003 model year, use combustion chambers that are not perfectly hemispherical but retain the Hemi name.

A common mix-up is assuming Chrysler invented every hemispherical engine. Other manufacturers have used similar cylinder-head designs, but Chrysler is the brand most strongly associated with the Hemi label in automotive history.