The 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-6 engine will come in two power iterations, and might completely replace the Stellantis HEMI V8 engine.
The supergroup was formed last year between car companies in Europe and the US. Like most other carmakers these days, the brand’s core focus revolves around significantly reducing carbon emissions. It set a target to sell at least 50% of its entire range as BEVs by 2030. Facilitating its transition, the powertrain division just rolled out the next set of engines to replace the aging V8s.
Stellantis claims that the new “Hurricane” powertrains churn out an equivalent power output as V8s while being 15% more efficient. The 3.0-liter inline-six engine features two low-inertia turbochargers, generating quite a lot of power.
Based on the application, the twin-turbo Hurricanes are classified into two types: Standard Output and High Output. Both are constructed similarly, utilizing a deep-skirt cast aluminum block with an aluminum oil pan underneath. Inside the block, the main steel bearing caps contain the moving assembly with a forged steel crankshaft and forged conrods for a durable and efficient design.
Furthermore, the cylinder linings are treated with Plasma Transfer Wire Arc (PTWA) coating, used in the aerospace sector. It starts with a steel alloy wire melted at 4,150 °F and then introduced near the cylinder openings. The microscopic particles are then sprayed into the cylinder linings, bonding to the surface and forming a low-friction and protective layer against excessive heat. Besides, the high output unit also includes DLC (Diamond-Like) coating on the pins to facilitate a much better engine response.
Stellantis opted for two low-inertia turbos instead of a single large turbo to minimize lag. Moreover, the company also installed a water-to-air charge cooler to cool the compressed air before entering the intake manifolds. And, of course, we know that the cool air and the atomized fuel particles lead to better combustion and increased power.
So, what kind of power outputs can you expect? According to Stellantis, the high output version with numerous enhancements like forged pistons, DLC coated surface, and oil-jet cooling can deliver more than 500 hp with a 9.5:1 compression ratio.
Meanwhile, the standard output version with cast aluminum pistons and cooled EGR delivers 400 hp with a 10.4:1 compression ratio.
The Hurricane engines will share the same cylinder dimensions with Stellantis’ 2.0-liter turbocharged i4 mills, though they will only be used in larger vehicles from Jeep, Dodge, and Ram, based on the upcoming STLA and STLA Large platforms.
Could this mean the end of the Hemi? Perhaps not immediately, but the V8’s days are numbered!
