Hemi Returns, but Without the Bite of the Cuda

DaimlerChrysler has announced the return of the legendary Hemi engine, but don’t sell your classic Cuda just yet. The "Hemi" engine, so-named for its hemispherical combustion chamber design, won’t be in a muscle car, it’ll be in a muscle truck.
The 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty which debuts as the Most Powerful Heavy-Duty Pickup, according to DC, will feature the all-new 5.7-Liter Hemi Magnum V-8. New from grille-to-tailgate, the heavy duty Dodge Rams bring an array of new powerplants, class-leading features and the “Big Rig” styling introduced on the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. In the U.S., the heavy-duty pickup market has grown 34% since 1996 with 2500/3500 pickups accounting for 31% of the large pickup market.
The original Hemi Engine was legendary among muscle car fans and NASCAR enthusiasts. The engine swept the Daytona 500 when it was introduced in 1964 and, subsequently, Hemi-equipped Barracudas, Road Runners, and Challengers have become hot items on the collector’s market and celebrated in dozens of web sites and fan publications–and enshrined in classic Hollywood car chases.
The new version of the Hemi engine is a 345-horsepower 5.7-liter V-8 that’s one of the most technologically-advanced power plants ever engineered by Chrysler. It has the most horsepower, the best acceleration, and the most powerful towing of any standard engine in its class, according to the company, while offering improved fuel economy over the engine it replaces.