Two years ago, Allpar was the first to bring you news of the GME T6 engine —a true Fiat Chrysler creation, with aspects of past Chrysler and Fiat motors and engineers from both sides in the team. Last year, Allpar also noted that the new turbo-six was to meet or beat the Hemi V8 in power, possibly replacing it.
Now, Mopar Insiders has claimed that that the new six will be good for 525 horsepower, and patent drawings that seem to apply to the GME T6 have surfaced. (The drawing is actually for an EGR valve control system, but the drawing is for a straight-six.)
![Tornado straight six]()
The 5.7 liter Hemi V8 produces (in the 2019 Ram 1500) 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. Whether the “Tornado” Six, which will almost certainly carry the sexy official name of “3.0 liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine,” will actually be sold in 525-horse trim is still unconfirmed. In the past, some rumors (700+ horsepower supercharged V8) have turned out to be on the money, while others (like the Pentastar) were closer to our more conservative estimates. Part of the reason is because, as engines go through development and testing atanyautomaker, they get retuned somewhat to run for 200,000 miles without trouble, optimize the gas mileage/performance balance, and provide decent low-end power as well as high-end numbers.
The Pentastar V6 currently maxes out at 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet. It was originally projected to hit over 400 horsepower with a twin-turbo setup, but has proven more difficult to retune. Ferrari’s own effort required major changes, far more costly and exacting manufacturing and materials, and only hit 404 hp.
Allpar’s insiders suggested last year that there will be multiple versions of this engine, and Mopar Insidersagreed, reporting that it would start at 360 horsepower. The 525-hp version would have an electric turbocharger, possibly with a second conventional turbocharger, to end turbo lag.
The base version (we would predict 310 hp rather than M-I’s 360) would replace the Pentastar V6 in trucks and possibly Jeeps, while an over-400-horse version would replace the base Hemi V8; in theory, the 525-horse engine, if it’s produced, would sub out for the 392 Hemi.
The Tornado should be less than three inches longer than the 2.4 liter four-cylinder. The expected displacement is just under 3 liters, coming under a displacement-tax threshold.
Two reliable sources have told us they believe FCA will make the new six-cylinder engines at one of the twin Dundee, Michigan plants and at the Trenton, Michigan complex — one fast line and one slow line. Trenton seems to be FCA’s “go-to” source for engines, with high production and good quality in the past; while Dundee, which has so far made four-cylinder WGE and FIRE engines, is relatively close to the Toledo, Ohio Wrangler plants.
Straight sixes are inherently smoother than V6s, and have a bit of snob appeal, given their use by BMW (mainly) and by Mercedes. The main advantages, though, would be lower cost due to fewer rotating parts, and possibly much narrower width than a V-engine, which could help make longer-articulation suspensions possible for Jeeps and Rams—if they were designed without provision for the current V6 or V8. Autoblog story • Main but outdated Allpar story
Now, Mopar Insiders has claimed that that the new six will be good for 525 horsepower, and patent drawings that seem to apply to the GME T6 have surfaced. (The drawing is actually for an EGR valve control system, but the drawing is for a straight-six.)
The 5.7 liter Hemi V8 produces (in the 2019 Ram 1500) 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. Whether the “Tornado” Six, which will almost certainly carry the sexy official name of “3.0 liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine,” will actually be sold in 525-horse trim is still unconfirmed. In the past, some rumors (700+ horsepower supercharged V8) have turned out to be on the money, while others (like the Pentastar) were closer to our more conservative estimates. Part of the reason is because, as engines go through development and testing atanyautomaker, they get retuned somewhat to run for 200,000 miles without trouble, optimize the gas mileage/performance balance, and provide decent low-end power as well as high-end numbers.
The Pentastar V6 currently maxes out at 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet. It was originally projected to hit over 400 horsepower with a twin-turbo setup, but has proven more difficult to retune. Ferrari’s own effort required major changes, far more costly and exacting manufacturing and materials, and only hit 404 hp.
Allpar’s insiders suggested last year that there will be multiple versions of this engine, and Mopar Insidersagreed, reporting that it would start at 360 horsepower. The 525-hp version would have an electric turbocharger, possibly with a second conventional turbocharger, to end turbo lag.
The base version (we would predict 310 hp rather than M-I’s 360) would replace the Pentastar V6 in trucks and possibly Jeeps, while an over-400-horse version would replace the base Hemi V8; in theory, the 525-horse engine, if it’s produced, would sub out for the 392 Hemi.
The Tornado should be less than three inches longer than the 2.4 liter four-cylinder. The expected displacement is just under 3 liters, coming under a displacement-tax threshold.
//www.allpar.com/photos/mopar/four-cylinders/Hurricane/turbos.jpg
Two reliable sources have told us they believe FCA will make the new six-cylinder engines at one of the twin Dundee, Michigan plants and at the Trenton, Michigan complex — one fast line and one slow line. Trenton seems to be FCA’s “go-to” source for engines, with high production and good quality in the past; while Dundee, which has so far made four-cylinder WGE and FIRE engines, is relatively close to the Toledo, Ohio Wrangler plants.
Straight sixes are inherently smoother than V6s, and have a bit of snob appeal, given their use by BMW (mainly) and by Mercedes. The main advantages, though, would be lower cost due to fewer rotating parts, and possibly much narrower width than a V-engine, which could help make longer-articulation suspensions possible for Jeeps and Rams—if they were designed without provision for the current V6 or V8. Autoblog story • Main but outdated Allpar story
