Stellantis Hurricane: new 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six petrol engine launched

Stellantis has a major electrification strategy under way across its 14 brands and plans to introduce 75 new fully electric models over the next eight years. However, it has not abandoned - and cannot abandon - combustion engines, as demonstrated by the launch of a new straight-six engine.

Called Hurricane, this is a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol straight-six, naturally aimed at Stellantis brands with the strongest presence in the North American market.

It has therefore been engineered to deliver power outputs comparable with certain V8 engines found in Jeep, Dodge and Ram models. It will be offered in two versions: the SO, or Standard Output, with more than 400 hp and 610 Nm; and the HO, or High Output, with more than 500 hp and 645 Nm.

Specific output of more than 166 hp per litre

The Hurricane name is not new, having previously been used for the engine fitted to the Jeep CJ and CJ3 during the 1950s and 1960s.

Naturally, this Stellantis unit is entirely new, incorporating cutting-edge technology that enables it to achieve a specific output exceeding 166 hp per litre.

It also promises considerable durability and a “controlled” weight, particularly when compared with the substantial 5.7-litre HEMI V8 used in several Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles.

While the naturally aspirated V8 weighs around 230 kg, the new twin-turbo straight-six comes in at 195 kg in SO form and 200 kg in HO specification.

The new Hurricane engine is almost ready for production, which is expected to begin in the coming months. It will be built at Stellantis’ Saltillo facility in Mexico, which can produce 250,000 of these engines annually.

Which models will use the Hurricane engine?

Stellantis has not disclosed the exact models that will receive the new straight-six. However, it is certain to be intended for the group’s largest current vehicles, as well as forthcoming models based on the new STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms.

STLA Frame is a body-on-frame platform, primarily intended for Ram pick-up trucks sold chiefly in North America.

STLA Large, meanwhile, will underpin larger models - with a greater focus on the North American market - measuring between 4.7-5.4 m long and 1.9-2.03 m wide.

In other words, this engine is expected to be used in vehicles such as the Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer, the Challenger and Charger, and Ram pick-up trucks.

Jeep is likely to be the first brand to receive it. Earlier this week, the brand’s US online configurator displayed an image of the new Hurricane as an option for the Grand Wagoneer, although it was removed later that same day.

Is it coming to Europe?

So far, there is nothing to indicate that this new Stellantis engine will cross the Atlantic and make its way to Europe.

Even though this architecture could theoretically accommodate electrification, it is worth remembering that the plug-in hybrid (4xe) versions of models such as the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee use “only” a 2.0-litre four-cylinder in-line petrol engine.