A storm is brewing: Dodge‘s new twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. It’s called the Hurricane and it makes 500 horsepower. Strong enough to power a Ram truck and small enough to fit in a Wrangler or Challenger, this engine is angling to make the HEMI V8 obsolete. Here’s everything we know about the all-new Hurricane engine.
| 5.7-liter HEMI V8 | SO “Hurricane” I6 | 6.4-liter HEMI V8 | HO “Hurricane” I6 | |
| Displacement | 5.7 liters (345 cubic inches) | 3.0 liters (approx. 183 cubic inches) | 6.4 liters (392 cubic inches) | 3.0 liters (approx. 183 cubic inches) |
| Horsepower | 363-395 horsepower | 400+ horsepower | 470-485 horsepower | 500+ horsepower |
| Torque | 394-410 lb-ft | 450+ lb-ft | 470-475 lb-ft | 475+ lb-ft |
| Boost | Naturally-Aspirated | 22 psi | Naturally-Aspirated | 26 psi |
Is an I6 better than a V6?
According to CarThrottle, an inline six-cylinder (I6) engine is inherently better balanced and has fewer moving parts than its V-shaped competitor. It revs higher while vibrating less and may be easier to work on. But a V6 can fit in a smaller engine bay, is cheaper to manufacture, and may weigh less.
Engineer at work | This Is Engineering via Unsplash
Engines with all their cylinders in one bank are called inline engines. These engines only need one set of overhead camshafts, which often makes them simpler and easier to work on. Their long crankshaft results in torquey performance. And their inline layout means they have a perfectly balanced firing order.
Some of Chrysler Corporation’s most famous engines of all time have been inline six-cylinders. Legendary I6s include the flathead Chrysler straight-six of the 1920s-50s, the steadfast slant-six of the 1960s-80s, and the Jeep 4.0-liter straight-six of the 1980s-2000s.
It’s unsurprising that Dodge returned to the I6 layout for its latest engine. According to Stellantis, the engineers in Auburn Hills Michigan addressed the traditional I6’s weight issue by casting the Hurricane’s block out of aluminum alloy.
Then, the engineers fine-tuned the Hurricane’s dimensions until it could fit into the Jeep Wrangler’s current engine bay. The result can be longitudinally mounted in any Stellantis vehicle currently using a HEMI V8.
Are two turbochargers better than one?
Two turbochargers allow engine tuners to have one come online at low RPMs and the other kick in at high RPMs for a flatter torque curve. Alternatively, both turbochargers can engage at the same RPM, but each feeds half the cylinders so they are lightweight and more responsive.
Engineer at work | This Is Engineering via Unsplash
Dodge chose two turbochargers for the second reason, rapid throttle response. Therefore the 3.0-liter Hurricane I6 has two turbochargers, each of which feeds just three cylinders.
The standard Hurricane engine’s turbochargers are rated for 22 psi of boost. Dodge will also offer a high output (HO) version of the engine that makes 26 psi. This Hurricane HO will only run on premium gas but will make 500+ horsepower.
To keep up with all the oxygen the turbochargers are ramming into the Hurricane’s cylinders, Dodge engineered a high-pressure fuel injection system. The new engine will pressurize its fuel to 5,075 psi to maximize the combustion process.
Is the Hurricane inline-six replacing the HEMI V8?
Stellantis states, “The Hurricane twin-turbo I-6 is the primary internal combustion power plant of the future in North America for vehicles using the STLA Large [muscle car and 4WD SUV] and STLA Frame [Ram truck] platforms.”
3.0-liter Hurricane Twin-Turbo inline six-cylinder engine | Stellantis
It is very likely that the new Hurricane I6 will replace the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 and the “392” 6.4-liter HEMI at some point in the future. At first, the new engine’s cost may prevent it from replacing the “Pentastar” naturally-aspirated V6 as the entry-level engine in most vehicles, but we’ll have to wait to find out.
So what will be the last model year of the legendary HEMI V8?
Dodge’s CEO, Tim Kuniskis admitted he plans to kill the current chassis of the Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Durango before the 2024 model year. The internal combustion Hellcat is going extinct at the same time. There’s a very good chance that no 2024 Dodge will offer a V8.
When will Jeep and Ram transition away from the V8? Ram may well continue offering its current engines for the lifetime of its current, fifth-generation truck. That said, Ram has upgraded its powertrains mid-generation in the past and the Ram 1500 is due for a refresh in 2023.
Finally, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer L is shaping up to be the first vehicle to showcase the new Hurricane I6. Will the Wrangler, Gladiator, and other Jeep models follow suit? The result could be the most powerful Wrangler in Jeep history.
Read about Dodge’s historic straight-six engines or see the differences between V6 and I6 engines in the video below:
Keyword: Storm Warning: Dodge’s ‘Hurricane’ I6 Engine by the Numbers