It’s not often that totally new internal combustion engine architectures debut, so on the eve of electrification this is an even more noteworthy event… Especially for Stellantis.
The Hurricane uses an inherently smooth inline-six cylinder configuration, and breathes via two turbos, each feeding three of the power plant’s cylinders. Stellantis claims that it will deliver better fuel economy than larger engines and outperforms naturally aspirated V8s and other boosted six-cylinders. Stellantis didn’t name names but there’s no doubt we’re talking Hemis and Ecoboosts here.
Intended for use in the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms, the Hurricane comes in two forms, spicy and spicier:
- Standard Output (SO): 400+hp/450lb-ft of torque and optimized for fuel economy
- High output (HO): 500+hp/475lb-ft of toque optimized for high performance applications and improved fuel economy during activities such as towing.
Expect the spiciest versions of this power plant to include varying degrees of electrification, because future.
Stellantis engineers did not develop an engine with such impressive engine specs by resting on their laurels. The Hurricane boasts a forged steel crankshaft, forged connecting rods, cross-bolted steel main bearing caps, and high-pressure direct injection. The power plant is also engineered to deliver a broad, flat torque curve (yay turbos!) delivering 90% of peak torque from 2,350 rpm all the way to redline.
Other state-of-the-art tech for the Hurricane include:
- Plasma Transfer Wire Arc (PTWA) cylinder coating for ultra-thin, low friction wear surfaces
- High pressure (5,075 psi/350 bar) direct fuel injection (single pumps for SO and dual pumps for HO versions) actuated by a dedicated chain-driven shaft
- DOHC camshaft configuration with wide-range, fully independent variable valve timing (VVT)
- Engine auto stop-start (ESS) with a robust starter motor for quick restarts
- Engine-mounted water-to-air intercooler with dedicated cooling circuit (single inlet for SO/dual inlet for HO)
- Dual water-cooled exhaust manifolds integrated into the cylinder head.
- Continuously variable displacement oil pump
- High-flow ball valve thermostat to minimize cooling system restriction.
The Hurricane shares design features including bore and stroke and cylinder spacing with the global 2.0L I-4 currently available in the Jeep Wrangler, Wrangler 4xe, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee 4xe and will be arriving in showrooms later this year, starting with the long wheel base Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer.
While this debut appears to be the beginning of the end of the HEMI and V8s for Stellantis, the Hurricane sounds like a worthy successor to start the next chapter of performance for the company.
