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Future Jeep, Ram, and Dodge models will soon have the option of a twin-turbocharged petrol six-cylinder petrol engine in the US, to sell alongside the Hemi V8.
Global car giant Stellantis is due to reveal its long-rumoured twin-turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine at the New York Auto Show in April – set to power the next-generation of Jeep SUVs and Ram pick-ups, as a companion to the trusty ‘Hemi’ V8.
In development since 2017, the new inline six-cylinder engine (rather than a V6) is known internally as the GMET6, or ‘Tornado’.
Previously rumoured to launch in its first vehicle in mid-2022, US website Autoblog reports the new engine may make its debut at the New York motor show in late April – following a cryptic clue from Jeep boss Jim Morrison, replying “Are you coming to New York?” when asked for an update on six-cylinder plans.
Overseas reports suggest the new twin-turbo inline-six will eventually become available in the latest ‘DT’ Ram pick-up range, in addition to the Jeep Wrangler four-wheel-drive, Gladiator ute, Grand Cherokee large SUV, and the US-market Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer luxury SUV twins.
It is unclear if Ram Trucks Australia would introduce the twin-turbo six-cylinder engine locally, given the investment required to engineer a conversion program for the inline-six for right-hand-drive locally. For now, Australian emissions regulations are yet to force V8s out of showrooms.
While the new inline-six is slated to offer power and torque outputs equivalent to a V8 – with reduced fuel consumption and emissions – it’s not expected to replace the V8 entirely – at least initially, in the US and Australia.
The inline-six engine may find its way into a factory-built right-hand-drive vehicle, in the form of a future Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler or Gladiator model – vehicles currently sold (or soon to be introduced) with 3.6-litre petrol V6 engines in Australia.
Overseas reports claim the new twin-turbo inline-six engine will be available in three states of tune overseas: a standard version, a high-output variant, and a third iteration with plug-in hybrid technology, with outputs to reportedly be as rated as high as 392kW, and no more than 750Nm.
Those outputs would place Jeep, Dodge and Ram’s 5.7-litre and 6.4-litre petrol ‘Hemi’ V8s in the firing line, which offer up to 295kW/556Nm and 362kW/644Nm respectively in their most powerful guises overseas.
Stay tuned to Drive for more details on the Stellantis group’s new inline-six engine, as its rumoured New York motor show debut in late April 2022 approaches.
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines as a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
Read more about Alex Misoyannis
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