Twin-turbo engines are right move at start of EV era

The new 3.0-liter inline-six twin-turbo "Hurricane" engines coming from Stellantis will slot into engine bays currently occupied by some of the best motors ever at Dodge, Ram and Jeep.

The Pentastar V-6, entering its 12th year of production in 2023, has been a workhorse, delivering a competitive blend of power and fuel economy and an admirable record for durability. But time has caught up with the Pentastar.

The most powerful versions of the Pentastar V-6 can be found in the Ram 1500 pickup. At 305 hp and 269 pound-feet of torque, the engine is adequate but not class-leading. And because Stellantis is planning on internal combustion-engine vehicles accounting for half of sales after 2030, it still must reduce emissions and improve fuel economy.

It needs a better, more modern six-cylinder engine.

The Hemi V-8 engine in Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Chrysler vehicles, now in its 20th year, is legendary and a fitting close to the modern horsepower wars. Some versions of the Hemi produce a stunning 807 hp. But time has also caught up with the Hemi.

In big, heavy vehicles such as the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, fuel economy can be as low as 13 mpg city, 21 highway and 16 combined — atrocious by today's standards.

There are cleaner, faster and smarter ways now to blast away from traffic lights than with a huge V-8 engine. A Lucid Air electric vehicle, for instance, can reach 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds.

Stellantis later this year will announce the vehicles that will get the new Hurricane engines. The Hurricane is designed to fit in vehicles that are front engine and rear-wheel or four-wheel drive, such as Ram pickups, Jeep Wranglers and Dodge Challengers. So you won't see a Hurricane engine in a minivan or smaller, front-wheel-drive Jeeps.

The new Hurricane engines — on paper — look like just the tool to continue the Ram brand's phenomenal growth. They also might even extend the lives of Dodge's aging but still in-demand performance cars, the Charger and Challenger.

At more than 400 hp and 450 pound-feet of torque, the SO or Standard Output version of the Hurricane engine not only bests the power ratings of the Pentastar V-6, but also the base 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.

The HO or High Output version of the Hurricane engine boosts horsepower to more than 500; torque is rated at a diesel-like 475 pound-feet.

Micky Bly, head of propulsion systems at Stellantis, says the new engines will deliver as much as a 15 percent efficiency improvement over the larger engines in Stellantis vehicles. Part of that improvement is achieved by equipping the engines with state-of-the-art turbochargers and fuel injections systems, reducing weight by using an aluminum block and head, and spray-in cylinder liners, instead of pressed-in steel liners.

Reducing the engine's weight also has other benefits. Less weight improves a vehicle's handling and braking performance.

Although all the talk — and money being spent — in the industry today involves EVs, the Hurricane engines are the right move for Stellantis. Gasoline engines that will power hardworking pickups, ProMaster vans, fleet vehicles and commercial trucks in the EV era will have to run cleaner and more efficiently.

The Pentastar V-6 and Hemi V-8 both had great runs. They won't fade away immediately, but they likely won't see any more investments or improvements before they take the checkered flag.