How heavy? Well that depends on the engine chosen. The previously mentioned 5.7-L Hemi, boasting 345-hp and 375 lb-ft of torque, compares well with last year's 245-hp 5.9-L OHV V8 with only 335 lb-ft of torque. OK, the word 'well' doesn't do it justice. It's up 100-hp! While not considered by some 'purists' to be a true hemispherical head due to each domed chamber being slightly filled with metal on the sides opposite the twin spark plugs, most anyone with brains will laud the new engine for incorporating optimally efficient twin sparkplug technology. "The situation is that we have a true hemispherical chamber except for a few cubic centimeters of material added to each side of the chamber," said Robert Lee, Chrysler Group's director of rear-wheel engine engineering. "And that's done to channel the flow and get the burn characteristic we wanted with the dual (spark) plugs. That's the only possible area that people could quibble about."
After all, is it possible that Dodge's engineers have learned a thing or two about engine architecture since the company's early 1970's 426 Hemi era? Regarding the new engines advanced engineering, Floyd Allen, Vice President, Product Powertrain Team stated, "Although based on the legendary HEMI engine design, this is one of the most technologically advanced engines ever engineered by the Chrysler Group." He continued, "The new 5.7-Liter HEMI Magnum utilizes such advances as a composite integrated air fuel module and electronic throttle control. The hemispherical head design allows the use of larger valves and provides better air flow to the combustion chambers." When all is said and done the new Hemi obliterates the outgoing 5.9-L V8 in horsepower and torque and still manages to improve fuel economy from 8 to 10 percent. Truly, it's one of the most enticing V8 engines to come out of Detroit in years.