Stellantis looks set to reveal a long-rumoured 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine.
In response to a question from Autoblog about whether he had anything to share about the new engine, Jeep brand chief Jim Morrison asked, “Are you coming to New York?”
He was referring to this year’s New York motor show, running from April 15 to 24.
The engine was already confirmed via a hastily removed mention on Stellantis’ North America media site, noticed by Allpar, that said production began at the end of last year.
The new engine – called GME T6, but also being referred to as Tornado – is being produced in Saltilo, Mexico.
It’ll reportedly replace the venerable iron-block 5.7-litre Hemi V8, and Mopar Insiders reports it’ll be available in standard- and high-output versions plus a plug-in hybrid variant.
The Hemi V8 is used in the outgoing WK2 and redesigned WL series of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well as the recently introduced Wagoneer.
Stellantis also still uses the 5.7-litre V8 in variants across the Dodge Challenger, Charger and Durango ranges, as well as the Chrysler 300 and Ram 1500.
Of these vehicles, only the Ram and the Grand Cherokee are sold here. Government filings, however, don’t list the redesigned WL Grand Cherokee – due here this year – as being available with the V8.
In the newer DT-series Ram 1500, the V8 produces 291kW of power and 556Nm of torque and uses a 48V mild-hybrid system.
It’s possible the new GME T6 engine will be used in the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500, alongside other vehicles from Stellantis’ American brands.
Pictured: Teaser of STLA Large-based vehicles
While Stellantis is expected to roll out this new twin-turbo six across a range of products, it’s also getting ready to introduce a range of vehicles across four “BEV-centric” architectures: STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large and STLA Frame.
STLA Large will underpin, among myriad other vehicles, a new electric muscle car for the Dodge brand that will serve as a new halo in the post-Hellcat era. It’s due in 2024.
Vehicles on the architecture will offer 400V or 800V technology and batteries measuring 101-118kWh.
They’ll offer up to 800km of range, and feature both single- and dual-motor electric powertrains with electric motors each producing between 150 and 330kW of power.
The current generation of Hemi V8 first entered production in 2003, though it’s received numerous updates since then.
It’s also spawned a couple of high-profile variants, in addition to the standard 5.7-litre. These are the 6.4-litre V8 used in the likes of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and Chrysler 300 SRT, among others, and the legendary supercharged 6.2-litre ‘Hellcat’ V8.
