Stellantis’ Hemi V8 engine is useless. Effectively not technically, however if you happen to go on the lookout for a sedan or muscle automotive powered by a V8, you will not discover it at Dodge or Chrysler. If it is not a heavy-duty Ram pickup or particular version SRT Hellcat Durango or Jeep Wrangler 392, you’ll be able to’t get a V8, and the engine is not lengthy for this world in these vehicles and SUVs both. Smaller displacement, turbocharged engines have made a comeback in recent times, and Stellantis has lastly gotten in on it for its largest and best-selling merchandise.
The pseudo-discontinuation of the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 noticed the introduction of a brand new engine to interchange it. Dubbed Hurricane, the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 just isn’t solely smaller however it’s extra highly effective and extra environment friendly. However what makes this engine so distinctive? Learn on to be taught three issues about Stellantis’ Hurricane inline-6 that make it particular.
It is smaller and extra highly effective than the Hemi V8
Work on what would turn into the Hurricane started manner again in 2013 as a direct response to Ford’s EcoBoost engines, however it wasn’t launched till 2022. It is the primary straight-six engine provided by an American automaker since GM’s Atlas I6 that was utilized in its GMT360 platform SUVs within the early 2000s, and Chrysler hadn’t provided one for years earlier than that. The Hurricane engine is offered in two energy outputs: The usual model makes 420 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque, whereas a high-output model utilized in merchandise just like the Ram RHO and Jeep Grand Wagoneer makes as a lot as 550 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque. That makes each model of the Hurricane extra highly effective than each the 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter variations of the Hemi V8, and because of turbocharging, it makes that energy with much less displacement.
Whereas each the usual and high-output variations of the Hurricane share over 90 elements and are largely equivalent, the engines do have their very own distinctive turbos. The usual variant will get a turbo with 22 psi of peak enhance whereas the high-output Hurricane will get 26 psi of peak enhance from its turbo. The engines additionally run on totally different gas, with the usual output Hurricane requiring common whereas the high-output wants premium.
Fashionable tech, classic identify
The Hurricane identify really has historic significance for Jeep, having been used on an inline-4 engine that powered the Willys CJ-3, CJ-5 and CJ-6 for over 20 years. Regardless of that historic identify, nothing concerning the fashionable Hurricane engine is previous. Stellantis used some cutting-edge tech to develop and construct the engines, particularly given their small dimension and massive energy. Take the Hurricane’s weight. Thanks partially to their light-weight forged aluminum block, each the usual and high-output variations of the engine weigh lower than 500 kilos, with an 11-pound distinction between the 2 (430 and 441 kilos respectively). Some surprisingly unique options have been additionally used for additional weight financial savings. Plasma switch wire arc expertise is used to spray vaporized metal alloy onto the cylinder partitions, one thing that has often solely been seen in high-performance engines like Ford’s flat-plane-crank Voodoo V8 within the Mustang Shelby GT350 and the Nissan’s VR38DETT twin-turbo V6 used within the GT-R.
The engine will make for an fascinating muscle automotive
Dodge might have upset various of its followers with the brand new Dodge Charger’s lack of a V8 engine. Followers aren’t displaying as much as sellers for the electrical model of Dodge’s new muscle automotive. When you’re a type of followers who desire a muscle automotive with extra energy that is not electrical, all it’s a must to do is wait till later this yr as Dodge is ready to launch the gas-powered model of the Charger. Referred to as the Charger Six Pack, consumers will be capable of get each variations of the Hurricane within the new muscle automotive. With both 420 or 550 horsepower, it ought to make issues fairly fascinating for the Charger on the efficiency entrance.
Contemplate that each variations of the inline-6 outpower the previous Charger SXT, GT, R/T and Scat Pack trims, which have been accessible with both a 292-hp 3.5-liter V6, a 370-hp 5.7-liter V8 or a 486-hp 6.4-liter Hemi V8. Regardless of that energy, we’ll have to attend and see if consumers reply. Dodge followers have been extraordinarily loyal to the V8; the tire-shredding efficiency of the Scat Pack and Hellcat fashions have been mainly the Charger’s whole id. And evidently with out that V8 engine, many have washed their palms of the model. Shrugging off the model might show to be untimely, although, as Dodge has created one thing distinctive with the six-cylinder Charger. The five-door mannequin seems to be prefer it’ll be an American Kia Stinger due to its liftback rear finish, and the Hurricane-powered fashions will nonetheless be rear-wheel drive, in fact. If the efficiency of the Hurricane lives as much as the engine’s energy figures, Stellantis and Dodge particularly might have a brand new hit on its palms.
