Which company produced the iconic Hemi engine?

Chrysler produced the iconic Hemi engine.

“Hemi” refers to a hemispherical combustion chamber, a layout that can permit large valves and efficient airflow. Chrysler became especially associated with the design through its FirePower V8, introduced in 1951. The company later revived the concept for the competition-oriented 426 Hemi in the 1960s, earning the engine a formidable reputation in NASCAR and NHRA drag racing.

The second-generation 426 Hemi appeared in racing form in 1964 and became available as a street engine in 1966. Its large size and power led racers to nickname it the “Elephant Engine.” Chrysler eventually brought the name back for modern engines, including the 5.7-liter HEMI introduced for the 2003 model year in Dodge Ram pickups.

The design itself was not exclusive to Chrysler; other manufacturers have built engines with hemispherical or partly hemispherical chambers. Also, modern HEMI heads are not truly hemispherical in the strict geometric sense. Nevertheless, Chrysler is the company whose engine family made “Hemi” a famous automotive performance name.