Stellantis Debuts the Hurricane, a Low-emission, High-powered Engine

Stellantis in Auburn Hills today revealed the Hurricane, a new 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, inline, six-cylinder engine.
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Stellantis has debuted its Hurricane engine, designed to have the power of V-8 with lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency. // Courtesy of Stellantis
Stellantis has debuted its Hurricane engine, designed to have the power of V-8 with lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency. // Courtesy of Stellantis

Stellantis in Auburn Hills today revealed the Hurricane, a new 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, inline, six-cylinder engine.

The power plant is designed to deliver better fuel economy and fewer emissions than larger engines, while generating horsepower and torque comparable to naturally aspirated V-8 and boosted six-cylinder power plants.

With a smooth-running I-6 configuration, the Hurricane twin-turbo’s base architecture enables Stellantis propulsion systems engineers to create two distinct variants:

  • Standard Output (SO): Optimized for fuel economy, including the use of cooled exhaust gas circulation (EGR), while delivering enhanced power and torque — more than 400 horsepower and 450 lb.-ft. of torque.
  • High Output (HO): Optimized for great performance — more than 500 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque — while maintaining significant fuel economy during heavy use, such as towing.

“As Stellantis aims to become the U.S. leader in electrification, with a 50 percent battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales mix by 2030, internal combustion engines will play a key role in our portfolio for years to come and we owe it to our customers and the environment to provide the cleanest, most efficient propulsion possible,” says Micky Bly, Stellantis head of propulsion systems.

“The Hurricane twin-turbo is a no-compromise engine that delivers better fuel economy and an important reduction in greenhouse gases without asking our customers to give up performance.”

The Hurricane twin-turbo offers a broad, flat torque band that sees the engine maintain at least 90 percent of peak torque from 2,350 rotations per minute (rpm) all the way to its red line. Specific horsepower and torque ratings will vary based on vehicle. The first vehicles powered by the Hurricane twin-turbo I-6 reach dealership showrooms this year.

Stellantis propulsion system engineers employed a suite of state-of-the-art technologies for the Hurricane twin-turbo to deliver reduced emissions and attain big-engine power:

  • Two low-inertia, high-flow turbochargers, each feeding three cylinders, for rapid response to throttle inputs.
  • Plasma Transfer Wire Arc (PTWA) coating in the cylinder bores for an ultra-thin, low-friction wear surface.
  • High-pressure direct fuel injection with pumps (single for SO/dual for HO) actuated by a dedicated chain-driven shaft.
  • Dual overhead camshafts with wide-range, fully independent variable valve timing.
  • Fuel-saving engine stop-start (ESS) function with robust starter motor for quick restarts.
  • Engine-mounted water-to-air charge cooler with a dedicated cooling circuit (single inlet for SO/dual inlet for HO).
  • Dual water-cooled exhaust manifolds integrated in the cylinder head.
  • Continuously variable displacement oil pump with integrated scavenge stage tailors pump output to engine demand, reducing frictional losses and helping save fuel.
  • High-flow ball-valve thermostat minimizes restriction in the cooling system, reducing mechanical losses.

The Hurricane twin-turbo I-6 is available in North America for vehicles using the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms. The 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo I-6 is produced at Stellantis’ Saltillo Engine Plant in Mexico.