Mopar’s Hurricane Six is official and very powerful indeed

In a stunning move, Stellantis has revealed its new Hurricane Six—keeping the code name for the general public. The engine was accidentally revealed to the public yesterday, caught by an Allpar reader, and reposted on Stellpower.

Stellantis confirmed that the Hurricane would be the primary internal-combustion engine for STLA Large and Frame vehicles, powering the future Dodge Challenger and Ram 1500, among others. It is likely that the Challenger will be made with BEV, hybrid (4xe), and Hurricane versions.

Mopar twin turbo inline six: Hurricane engine

There are two variants, standard and high output. The standard output is optimized for fuel economy, yet produces a 5.7-Hemi-beating 400 horsepower, with 450 pound-feet of torque. That torque is distributed over a wider part of the rpm curve, so the engine should accelerate cars far more quickly than the 5.7 Hemi would, while delivering better fuel economy.

The high output version is optimized for performance and towing, pushing out a 6.4-Hemi-beating 500 horsepower with 475 pound-feet of torque. The “392” V8 produces 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque; while the numbers seem similar, again, the Hurricane should have higher acceleration due to its wider torque curve. Both the 392 and high-output Hurricane require premium fuel, but the Hurricane is “up to 15% more efficient than larger engines,” according to Stellantis.

This story originally mentioned the Tornado, which was the code name for the GME T4.

Actual power output will vary based on the vehicle. The first Hurricane engines will be sold this year; production has already begun.

The engine is, as Allpar predicted in 2017, a 3.0 liter inline six. It has twin turbochargers and, again as Allpar (and Stellpower) predicted, uses plasma transfer wire arc technology to protect cylinder walls rather than Chrysler’s preferred cylinder liners; wire arc hardening was chosen because it saves  some space, and making the inline six as compact as possible was a priority.

Hurricane Six (GMET6)

The Hurricane keeps at least 90% of peak torque from 2,350 rpm to the redline.

The turbochargers are low-inertia, high-flow models; each feeds three cylinders, increasing responsiveness. The engine has direct fuel injection, with a single pump for the standard output model and twin pumps for the high output model; it is actuated by a chain-driven shaft and runs at 5,075 psi (350 bar).

Dual overhead cams have fully independent variable valve timing. An engine-mounted water-to-air charge air cooler has a dedicated cooling circuit, with one inlet on standard output and twin inlets on high output models. Dual water-cooled exhaust manifolds are integrated into the cylinder head.

Mechanical losses are reduced with a high-flow ball-valve thermostat and a continuously variable-displacement oil pump with an integrated scavenge stage, to tailor pump output to engine demand.

GMET6: inline twin turbo Hurricane engine

As predicted by Stellpower, Chrysler’s GMET6 3.0 liter engine will be produced by the Saltillo Engine Plant, which currently makes Hemi V8s. Saltillo will apply the cylinder coating as well. This processes melts a steel alloy wire at 2,300°C (4,150°F), which sprays steel onto the cylinder walls at high velocity; the particles form a physical bond to the aluminum cylinder surface. It is then honed for a fine cross-hatch pattern for oil retention. This process is more compact than iron liners, and leaves more aluminum between the cylinders for heat transfer and cooling. That allows for a wider spark advance range and optimized air-fuel mixture.

As noted earlier by Stellpower, the engine is based closely on the 2.0 liter GME T4, used by the Wrangler in standard and 4xe forms; as the optional Cherokee engine; and as part of the Grand Cherokee 4xe.

For more, see our latest story on the Hurricane Six.

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