Chrysler’s Hemi series of V8 engines has become an icon of American motoring, with a history that stretches all the way back to the 1950s and continues into the present day since the engine’s 2003 reintroduction as a redesigned modern-day version, debuting in the Dodge Ram truck. The Hemi name, trademarked by Chrysler and frequently stylized in all-caps, refers to the engines’ defining characteristic: their hemispherical combustion chambers, whose domed shape produces better flow of gases and increased power output.
Chrysler
Also known as FCA US, Chrysler is the American subsidiary of the global automotive company Stellantis. Historically, Chrysler has been one of the ‘Big Three’ American automakers. It was founded in 1925 by Walter Chrysler and merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998; the company was called DaimlerChrysler until its Chrysler stake was sold off less than a decade later. Chrysler operated on its own until Fiat S.p.A acquired it in 2014. When Stellantis was formed in 2021 after the merger of FCA and PSA, Chrysler became a subsidiary. With only a few models on sale in the US at present, Chrysler is one of the handful of automakers still producing minivans, with its Pacifica lineup.
- Founded
-
1925
- Founder
-
Walter Chrysler
- Headquarters
-
Michigan, United States
- Owned By
-
Stellantis
- Current CEO
-
John Elkann (temporary)
There have been several incarnations of the Hemi V8 over the decades: one in particular, the 5.7-liter version of the third-gen engine, was used in a wide variety of models spanning from the turn of the millennium to the present day. It also earned a spot on the Ward’s 10 Best Engines list from 2003 to 2007, and then once more in 2009. Although it is now being phased out, it represented an important part of Stellantis’ history, and still powers some of its vehicles today. Let’s explore some of the cars, trucks, and SUVs that have been powered by this engine over the years.
The list includes ten cars that included Chrysler’s 5.7-liter Hemi V8 in their engine lineup, listed in chronological order from the oldest to the newest.
|
The 5.7 Hemi Engine In Numbers |
|
|---|---|
|
Configuration |
90° V8 |
|
Displacement |
5.7 liters |
|
Horsepower |
340-345 hp |
|
Torque |
375-390 lb-ft |
|
Production years |
2003-2024 |
1
Ram Pickup
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2003-2024
The Ram pickup was originally marketed as the Dodge Ram; in 2010, when Ram became an independent brand in its own right, it simply became the Ram, followed by a numerical label, such as 1500 for the regular full-size truck, or 2500/3500 for the heavy-duty ones.
Related
There’s Still Hope For Hemi V8’s Return To Ram 1500
There are a couple of challenges, though, especially for the refreshed model.
The 5.7 Hemi engine first appeared in the third generation of the Ram truck; in 2005, only two years after it had been introduced, the engine underwent a revision which added a cylinder-deactivating feature that improved fuel economy. The upgraded version of the engine continued to be featured in the Ram’s lineup for the subsequent two generations, and although it’s gone from the 1500, it still powers its larger siblings.
2
Dodge Durango
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2004-2009 / 2011-Present
Dodge’s Durango SUV is one of the oldest vehicles currently on the market: the current generation has been on the market since 2011, with a revision in 2014. The 5.7 Hemi has been offered as an engine option since the start of the model’s second generation, which arrived on the market for the 2004 model year.
Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.
The model was then briefly discontinued in 2010, with the second generation wrapping up after the 2009 model year and the third going on sale in 2011. The 5.7 Hemi, however, returned with the new generation, and is still available today alongside other options like the 3.6L Pentastar V6 and a supercharged V8 (the latter being a rarity in today’s automotive market).
3
Dodge Magnum
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2005-2008
The Magnum nameplate has a curious history: originally used for a two-door coupe sold in the US market in the late 70s, it was later redeployed in Brazil (as an alternate name for a locally-built Dodge Dart) and in Mexico (where it was used for several rebadged Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler models).
Related
Buying A Used Dodge Magnum Is The Perfect SUV Antidote
Who needs an crossover when you can have a Hemi wagon?
The model we are referring to in this list, however, is the most recent one, a station wagon based on Chrysler’s LX platform. In production for just four model years, the short-lived Magnum offered four engine options, two of which were Hemi V8s (the 5.7-liter and the 6.1-liter). While the 5.7-liter was used in the RT version, its 6.1-liter counterpart was used in the high-performance SRT-8 variant.
4
Chrysler 300
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2005-2023 (300C) / 2012-2023 (300S)
In a similar way to the Magnum, the Chrysler 300 carries a historical nameplate in a new guise: the first Chrysler models to bear a “300” badge go all the way back to the 1950s. The 300 name continued to exist, being applied to a variety of different models, throughout the decades that followed.
Related
Chrysler 300 Generations: Everything You Need To Know In One Place
Chrysler’s striking sedan with its distinctive, classic proportions endured for two generations before the public’s appetite for crossovers killed it.
The 5.7-liter Hemi was first used in the range-topping 300C version, lasting almost two decades until the model as a whole was discontinued in 2023. The sporty 300S trim, meanwhile, was also powered by the 5.7 Hemi; this version was introduced at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. Like the 300C, it also remained on the market until the end of the model’s life cycle.
5
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2005-2022
The Grand Cherokee is a mid-size SUV and one of Jeep’s most successful models, currently in its fifth generation. The 5.7 Hemi was first made available with the debut of the Grand Cherokee’s third generation; it was on offer alongside other options such as a 3.7-liter V6, a 4.7-liter V8 and, for the SRT8 model, a larger (6.1-liter) Hemi V8.
Related
Jeep Cherokee Vs. Grand Cherokee: 10 Differences Between The Jeep SUV Siblings
Take a closer look at how the Grand Cherokee differentiates itself from the currently absent yet time-tested Cherokee SUV.
The 5.7 Hemi remained part of the Grand Cherokee’s engine lineup as the fourth and fifth generations rolled around, but it was eventually discontinued one model year into the latter, with the 2023 Grand Cherokee no longer offering it as an option. Its larger sibling, the Grand Cherokee L, continued to offer it until 2024.
6
Jeep Commander
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2006-2010
Remember the third-generation Grand Cherokee we mentioned earlier? Well, that model traced its origins to a 1999 concept car which also heavily influenced the development of the Commander, released a year after the third-gen Grand Cherokee.
Related
The Jeep Commander Is Back, But Without Its US Passport
Jeep has just announced that its small three-row Commander SUV will be going on sale in North America, but there’s a problem.
The Commander, also a mid-size SUV, had far less success than the Grand Cherokee, only remaining on the market for a total of five model years before being discontinued. (The Commander is now being brought back, but not in the US). In the Commander, the 5.7 Hemi was the largest engine option, available alongside a 3.0-liter turbo diesel, a 3.7-liter gas V6, and a 4.7-liter V8 compatible with both regular gas and E85.
7
Dodge Charger
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2006-2023
The Dodge Charger needs no introduction: as one of the most iconic models in the muscle car world, it is known and loved by most car enthusiasts (even with its current V8-free lineup, consisting of an EV and an inline-six model).
Related
Dodge Charger Generations: Everything You Need To Know In One Place
For years, the Charger was Dodge’s big and roomy sedan, but with a mean streak added in the form of ballistic high-performance V8 versions.
The 5.7 Hemi joined the Charger lineup with the arrival of the model’s sixth generation, more specifically its R/T version. The SRT8 model, on the other hand, used the larger 6.1-liter version of the Hemi V8, in a similar fashion to the Grand Cherokee. The 5.7 Hemi stuck around for the model’s subsequent generations, all the way to the disappearance of the V8-powered Charger after the 2023 model year.
8
Chrysler Aspen
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2007-2009
The short-lived Chrysler Aspen was based on the second generation of the Dodge Durango, with which it shared an engine lineup including the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The Aspen was first unveiled in 2005 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and went on sale for the 2007 model year.
Related
Here’s Why Chrysler Should Bring Back The Aspen
It looks nothing like the slow-selling original, and that’s a good thing.
It was notable for being the first truck-based SUV sold under the Chrysler brand, however it did not enjoy a good level of success, and only lasted for a total of three model years before being discontinued in 2009. The shutdown of the Chrysler plant in Newark, Delaware (which assembled both the Aspen and the second-gen Durango) marked the end for both models; when the Durango was brought back two years later, it was built in Detroit instead.
9
Dodge Challenger
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2009-2023
The Dodge Challenger that included the 5.7 Hemi in its engine lineup was the modern version of the model, which brought the Challenger nameplate back to the market after a 25-year hiatus. This model was first unveiled in 2006 at the North American International Auto Show (something that won’t happen anymore for future Stellantis models, as the company has dropped out of US auto shows as of 2024), and later went on sale for the 2008 model year.
Related
Dodge Challenger Generations: Everything You Need To Know In One Place
The Challenger muscle car is no more, but its storied history will never be forgotten with outputs eventually topping out at over 1,000 hp.
Alongside the 5.7 Hemi, the Challenger’s engine lineup included a 3.5-liter V6, two other Hemi V8s (a 6.1-liter and a 6.4-liter), and a supercharged V8 for the Hellcat and Demon variants. Like its Charger sibling, the Challenger was also discontinued in 2023; the new electric Charger Daytona is meant to be a spiritual successor to both models.
10
Jeep Wagoneer
Years with 5.7 Hemi engine: 2022-2023
The most recent introduction of the 5.7 Hemi is in the Jeep Wagoneer, where the engine was added to the lineup in 2022 and 2023. The Wagoneer is a model with a very long history, having first been introduced in 1963; it was discontinued in 1993, before the name was brought back to the market nearly three decades later in 2022. The 5.7 Hemi was available in the Wagoneer, while the 6.4-liter variant powered its larger Grand Wagoneer sibling. However, in 2024, the 5.7 Hemi was replaced by the 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six, bringing the base-trim Wagoneer in line with the rest of the lineup. The Hurricane engine delivered more power, better performance, and improved fuel economy.
Sources: Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram.
