Direct Connection Hurricane Crate Engines Offer Big Power Potential

Hurricane Twin Turbo

Last year, Dodge announced that the new Hurricane inline-six would join the Direct Connection crate engine lineup, alongside various Hemi crate engines. Those who can’t get over the possible demise of the Hemi refuse to see any upside to the new Hurricane engine, but for those who are happy to have an internal combustion engine in the future of the brand, this engine presents an opportunity.

If nothing else, the fact that Dodge is discussing this engine is proof that the brand doesn’t plan to go all-electric in the immediate future. The trio of Hurricane crate engines, one of which is slated for the next generation Drag Pak car, shows that these engines will pack a serious punch.

The first production application of the Hurricane inline-six engine family was the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. In the big Jeep, the “base” Hurricane pushed out 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque while the Hurricane 510 in the Grand Wagoneer delivers 510 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. Those engines effectively replace the 5.7-liter Hemi in the Wagoneer and the 6.4-liter Hemi in the Grand Wagoneer, and each of the smaller engines pack more power than the V8s that they are replacing. The 5.7-liter Hemi in the Wagoneer offers 392 horsepower and 404 lb-ft of torque while the 6.4-liter Hemi in the Grand Wagoneer delivers 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, so there are significant increases in both horsepower and torque when comparing the Hemi to the Hurricane in the Wagoneer line. [Read more…]

Dodge has Big Plans for the Hurricane Inline Six Engine

Hurricane Inline-Six Engine

We have been talking for years about the Hurricane inline-six engine family; with the arrival of the new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, those long-rumored engines have finally come to production.

In the huge Jeeps, both the standard and high-performance variants of the 3.0-liter Hurricane engine provide substantial power, making them reasonable alternatives to the Hemi V8 engines which are also available in luxury Jeeps… [Read more…]

Direct Connection Introduces Three New Hellephant Crate Engines

Hellephant Crate Engine Series

Mopar shocked the world a few years back with the introduction of the Hellephant crate engine. Measuring 426 cubic inches and fitted with a 3.0-liter IHI supercharger, this engine offered 1,000 horsepower on pump gas, but only 100 units were sold during the initial run, making them nearly impossible to get. Seeing the popularity of … Read more

Road Runner, Barracuda coming—but not the way you’d think

1972 Cuda

Last week, Mopar announced a number of new additions to its Direct Connection portfolio, aimed mainly at racers—Direct Connection’s original 20th-century audience and purpose. These include a new Drag Pak rolling chassis for the Sportsman class in drag racing and a new $8,000 Challenger body-in-white. These were covered by Stellpower in some detail last week, … Read more

Direct Connection Adds Bodies, Blowers, Headers, Carbon Fiber and More

Dodge Challenger Drag Pak Rolling Chassis

Along with the loads of news pertaining to 2023 Dodge models, the brand also announced an array of new items coming to the Direct Connection catalog. Not surprisingly, Dodge is looking to support those Challenger and Charger owners who race on the track as well as those who want more power and style on the … Read more

Mopar Enthusiasts are Hoping for a Final “Super Challenger” in 2023

2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock:

It is widely expected that 2023 will be the final year for the current Dodge Challenger, and even though there are already multiple full production trim levels with right around 800 horsepower, the Mopar community wants to see the modern muscle car race off into the sunset with a bang. Mopar lovers want to see … Read more

Direct Connection Sponsoring the MSHS Street Class for 2022

Direct Connection Modern Street Hemi Shootout

If you are reading this, you likely already know, but the Modern Street Hemi Shootout (MSHS) series is the premier racing organization for modern Mopar racers or classic vehicles powered by a late model Hemi. It is the biggest Mopar series with the fastest modern Mopar-powered race cars in the world (there is even a … Read more

Direct Connection Kit Availability for Charger, Demon and Scat Pack Models

The Direct Connection Tuner

We have talked a great deal over the past few weeks about the Direct Connection performance packages for the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Redeye, but there has been no word on whether or not other models would be included. Sources involved with the project told us that the Charger would be included at a … Read more

Direct Connection Performance Packages On-Sale Date Revealed

Hellraiser Pulley

Dodge announced today that March 9th is the day on which the Power Brokers network will officially go live and on that day, the Direct Connection performance packages for the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Redeye will go on sale. The kits for the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redye and the SRT Super Stock will … Read more

Dodge Announces Official Direct Connection Performance Package Details

Dodge Challenger Redeye stage 2

We have known for some time that the Direct Connection performance division was returning to support the Dodge brand. Today, the first real details on these internally-designed performance packages were announced with increases of up to 885 warranty-friendly horsepower for the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. There are also some upgrade options for the Challenger SRT … Read more

No Power Brokers or Direct Connection for Canada

Direct Connection Logo

We have covered the return of Direct Connection and the introduction of the Power Brokers dealership program quite a bit since the Dodge Never Lift Plan began earlier this month. One of the most common questions that we have gotten on social media relates to whether or not these programs would be offered in Canada. … Read more

What the Return of Direct Connection is All About

1977 Direct Connection

Yesterday, Tim Kuniskis unloaded a ton of information on the Mopar world as part of the Never Lift Business Plan and we briefly talked about each program, with special emphasis on the return of factory performance packages. We mentioned that these packages would be marketed under the Direct Connection name through Power Broker dealerships, but … Read more

In-House Tuning Kits to Add around 100hp to Dodge Hellcat Cars

Hellraiser Pulley

This morning, Tim Kuniskis introduced the world to the Never Lift program, which included the first details of the reborn Direct Connection program. Back in the 1970s, Direct Connection provided high performance parts for Mopar owners who wanted to go faster than they could in stock form. Back then, the Chrysler Corporation helped Dodge owners … Read more

Dodge Formally Introduces the Never Lift Two-Year Plan

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye

During the media preview day for the 2021 Roadkill Nights event in Metro Detroit, Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis briefly teased the “Never Lift” plan. Back then, Kuniskis explained that the Never Lift plan would be based on a calendar which would essentially preview the brand’s big news over the course of the next two years, … Read more