The term “Hemi V8” has been synonymous with performance going all the way back to the 1950s, and this still rings true today when talking about modern Hemis from Stellantis, like the 392 and Hellcat found in the previous-generation Dodge Charger and Challenger muscle cars. The Hemi name is derived from the hemispherical shape of the combustion chamber that Chrysler introduced on a V8 in 1951, and was actually coined by enthusiasts. Chrysler didn’t start using the name officially until the 1960s, initially referring to the V8 as the FirePower.
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