A storm is brewing: Dodge’s new twin-turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine. It’s called the Hurricane and it makes 500 horsepower. Strong enough to power a Ram truck and small enough to fit in a Wrangler or Challenger, this engine aims to make the HEMI V8 obsolete. Here’s everything we know about the all-new Hurricane engine.
5.7-liter HEMI V8 | SO “Hurricane” I6 | 6.4-liter HEMI V8 | HO “Hurricane” I6 | |
displacement | 5.7 liters (345 cubic inches) | 3.0 liters (approx. 183 cubic inches) | 6.4 liters (392 cubic inches) | 3.0 liters (approx. 183 cubic inches) |
PK | 363-395 hp | 400+ horsepower | 470-485 hp | 500+ horsepower |
Couple | 394-410 lb-ft | 450+ lb-ft | 470-475 lb-ft | 475+ lb-ft |
Boost | Naturally aspirated | 22psi | Naturally aspirated | 26psi |
Is an I6 better than a V6?
According to CarThrottle, an inline six-cylinder (I6) engine is inherently better balanced and has fewer moving parts than its V-shaped competitor. It spins higher while vibrating less and may be easier to work on. But a V6 fits in a smaller engine bay, is cheaper to produce and may weigh less.
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Engines with all their cylinders in one row are called inline engines. These engines require only one set of overhead camshafts, often making them simpler and easier to machine. Their long crankshaft results in powerful performance. And their inline layout means they have a perfectly balanced firing order.
Some of Chrysler Corporation’s most famous engines of all time were straight-six engines. Legendary I6s include the Chrysler flat-six of the 1920s-50s, the steadfast slant-six of the 1960s-80s, and the Jeep 4.0-liter straight-six of the 1980s-2000s.
Unsurprisingly, Dodge returned to the I6 layout for its latest engine. According to Stellantis, engineers at Auburn Hills Michigan addressed the traditional I6’s weight problem by casting the Hurricane’s block from an aluminum alloy.
Engineers then fine-tuned the Hurricane’s dimensions to fit the current Jeep Wrangler engine bay. The result can be mounted longitudinally in any Stellantis vehicle currently using a HEMI V8.
Are two turbochargers better than one?
Two turbochargers allow engine tuners to bring one online at low rpm and engage the other at high rpm for a flatter torque curve. Alternatively, both turbochargers can be engaged at the same RPM, but each feed half of the cylinders, so they are lightweight and more responsive.

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Dodge opted for two turbos for the second reason, quick throttle response. That’s why the 3.0-liter Hurricane I6 has two turbochargers, each feeding just three cylinders.
The stock Hurricane engine’s turbochargers are rated for 22 psi of boost. Dodge will also offer a high horsepower (HO) version of the engine that makes 26 psi. This Hurricane HO runs on premium gas only, but puts out over 500 horsepower.
To keep up with all the oxygen pumping the turbos into the Hurricane’s cylinders, Dodge designed a high-pressure fuel injection system. The new engine will pressurize its fuel to 5,075 psi to maximize the combustion process.
Will the Hurricane inline-six replace the HEMI V8?
Stellantis states: “The Hurricane twin-turbo I-6 is the primary combustion engine of the future in North America for vehicles using the STLA Large [muscle car and 4WD SUV] and STLA frame [Ram truck] platforms.”

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It is very likely that the new Hurricane I6 will replace the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 and the “392” 6.4-liter HEMI at some point in the future. Initially, the cost of the new engine may prevent it from replacing the “Pentastar” naturally aspirated V6 as the entry-level engine in most vehicles, but we’ll have to wait to find out.
So what will be the last model year of the legendary HEMI V8?
Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis admitted that he plans to destroy the current chassis of the Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Durango before the 2024 model year. The internal combustion Hellcat dies out at the same time. Chances are, no 2024 Dodge will offer a V8.
When will Jeep and Ram move away from the V8? It is quite possible that Ram will continue to offer its current engines for the life of its current fifth-generation truck. That said, Ram has upgraded its mid-generation powertrains in the past, and the Ram 1500 is due for a 2023 refresh.
Finally, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer L will be the first vehicle to showcase the new Hurricane I6. Will the Wrangler, Gladiator and other Jeep models follow? The result could be the most powerful Wrangler in Jeep history.
Learn more about Dodge’s historic straight-six engines or see the differences between V6 and I6 engines in the video below:
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