Big news out of Stellantis today as it officially releases details on the new Hurricane 3.0-liter twin-turbo I-6 engine, which will be the primary engine for its Ram trucks and commercial vehicles. This means, the 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi is very likely dead for the upcoming, refreshed 2023 Ram 1500.
Let’s start with this new engine and then get into why the 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi is going away.
What is the Hurricane 3.0L twin-turbo I-6 engine?
First, the Hurricane engine is inherently balanced with its inline-six design, and each of the turbos feeds 3 cylinders, meaning it will have better off-the-line performance. Stellantis says it will perform like a V-8 when towing while having 15% better fuel economy.
The automaker also says there will be two different versions of this engine with one tuned for high-performance output (HO) and one for standard-performance output (SO).
The HO version will be “optimized for great performance (more than 500 horsepower/475 pound-feet of torque) while maintaining significant fuel economy during heavy use, such as towing,” according to a Stellantis press release.
While the SO version will be “optimized for fuel economy,” including the use of cooled exhaust gas circulation (EGR), while delivering enhanced power and torque (more than 400 horsepower/450 pound-feet of torque).
The engine is set up to utilize a “broad, flat torque band” with 90% peak torque achieved at just 2,350 RPM and will maintain that torque all the way to the engine’s red line.
Stellantis says this new engine will be the “primary internal combustion power plant of the future in North America for vehicles using the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms.” Since the Hemi V-8 is the primary engine choice now, it is very likely that engine is going away.
Finally, the engine is setup for future use with electrification. Think hybrid applications.
Why is the Hemi V-8 dead?
The simple reason I think the V-8 is dead: Global emissions standards. While many people see the U.S. environmental protection agency and the current or past presidents to blame for the death of V-8s, the fact is global emissions standards are playing the key role.
With Ram a global brand, for instance, it has to meet the Euro 6 standards. Plus, there are companies’ own goals of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030.
Additionally, China, the world’s largest automotive market, is embracing Euro 6 standards. Companies simply don’t want to build different engines for different markets anymore, and this is just good business.
The Hemi V-8 can’t meet these lower emissions standards in its current form. Instead, companies are turning to smaller displacement turbocharged engines, which return a reduction of 40% emissions right off the bat — like the 2022 Toyota Tundra saw.
While some will want a hybrid version of a V-8 or more transmission gears to help reduce emissions, the reality is the V-8 just can’t do it.
These engines will be replaced by these small V-6 engines and we will see better performance and fuel economy while sacrificing the V-8 rumble as well as making engines more complex to work on.
What about 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar?
The Pentastar V-6 engine is the current base engine, and its days are very numbered. There really is no reason to keep it around after this Hurricane engine comes out, and we could see Stellantis killing this V-6 option, like Toyota and General Motors have done to some degree with the 2.7-liter 4-cylinder.
The bottom line on the Hurricane 3.0-liter twin-turbo I-6 engine
In simple terms, the days of the shady tree mechanic fixing his truck is long gone and these new complex engines are here to stay with more and more electrification becoming the norm. This is the only way to meet global emissions standards as well as produce vehicles with better performance and fuel economy. That is just the way it is.
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22 comments
Bobby
The only 6 that belongs in a Ram is a Cummins.
Ed
Hey Tim, if you get rid of your 62 C10 it would definitely help the cause. Just saying, there’s no fun where we’re headed.
Gettin real tired of this crap
Our current power grind cannot handle the electrification of automobiles. They are aware of this!! Get ready for the electricity rationing and price gouging.
Adenach
Stop the war in ukraine and you will save the planet don’t release gazillion of methane by blowing up nord 1 and 2. Stop building insane amount of weapons , causing wars destabilizing countries, bombing countries under fake pretext of WMD, ban all private jets and helicopters, huge ychats, ban huge houses like the one Obama bought which probably has alot of AC’s. Didn’t he say to us africans obama quote ” The Planet Will Boil Over If Everybody Has a Car, Air Conditioning and a Big House” arrogant very hypocritical
Anonymous
👍
Anonymous
This article was written by an accountant from California who can t wait to see gasoline engines disappear. Its clear he sides with Stellantis(Peugot) in ruining reliable trucks in the hopes of electrifying everything….then end of longevity is here. The introduction of 3 year throw away electric cars is here.
Lf
Have bought my last Ram PU!! Incredibly complex 180 ci engine to power a 4000 plus vehicle!! Don’t care how well it is built the longevity will suck!! Although grossly disappointed, your loss!
Anonymous
I have bought 6 RAM trucks over the last 8 years, if the v8 is gine, I will be buying a v8 truck from GM.
Dalmacio Perez
Sorry but is a big mistake, you eliminate the V 8 option in Ram, Chargers, Challengers and Grand Wagoneer, you going to lose a lot a business, we don’t like Fiat motors in American cars
Anonymous
Amen Brother, no v8 from Ram, I am going to GM.
Jack
I have owned 7 Ram 1500s if the inline six comes out my Ram ownership will end
Chris Georgopoulos
I love my 6.4 L V8 but after driving my son’s 21’F150 with a twin turbo 6, the power was amazing. I have a 21′ Ram 2500 Power Wagon and if they put the 3L TTI6 in there I will definitely trade it in for a new one
Richard Haist
I have been a diehard Dodge, Ram, Chrysler fan and customer for decades. If the V8 is gone forever in their vehicles, I will have to now go to another brand for my vehicles or just drive used v8 vehicles for the rest of my life.
Anonymous
Get over it and help the planet out we need to start thinking about the environment and not ourselves but as usual most Americans are selfish
Adi
Anonymous … Get over it and help the planet out we need to start thinking about the environment and not ourselves but as usual most Americans are selfish …. most likely u wear mask , vacci -ed anti bull-shh , and big fan of Soros and hELL gates , sheep u are !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous
FU
Anonymous
BS
Anonymous
Please, you want to turn the economy and vehicle business upside down to avoid the .005 degree uptick in last 5 years…… have at it, meanwhile eyes closed on most violence in 5 years
Frank mill
Most Americans have gave more than other countries you can name! We don’t see people standing in lines to get in by the hundreds to your so called “Unselfish” countries now do we?
Jason
Nothing is wrong with the environment, but as usual, sheep just follow…
Chucky
If you really want to help the planet (a joke) then don’t drive, and buy a bicycle.
Anonymous
So true