Could An Inline 6-Cylinder Make A Comeback?

Us old school Jeepers still remember, and probably still own, a Jeep powered by the beloved 4.0L straight 6 engine. It was arguably one of Chrysler’s best engines ever produced, released in 1986, making 190 hp and many lasting over 300,000 miles. It was used in Cherokees, Wagoneer, Wranglers, Grand Cherokees and Comanches. It was retired in 2006 and replaced by the, cough cough, 3.8 V6.

As we know, technology keeps things, uh, interesting, and with technology we usually end up with better products but usually much more complex systems, especially when it comes to our Jeeps!

It’s been quite a while since we had heard that Fiat Chrysler was working on an engine that we referred to as a straight 6 which they called the GME-T6, or code named the Tornado. The US Patent was filed in April of 2019, so we know it’s being worked on. By the way, this 3.0L will also be turbo charged. GME stands for Global Medium Engine and we have heard the engine will be debuting in the next Dodge Challenger.

From information gathered from stellpower.com:

“The target horsepower was in the 400 range, but there are many constraints, so don’t be too disappointed if the new engine is more like 370 horsepower; regardless, it’s likely to have a wider peak torque band than the current 5.7 Hemi. Over time, the GME T6 is likely to replace the 5.7 Hemi, because of its superior power characteristics and higher fuel economy.

This engine would be a boon for Alfa Romeo, DS, and other Stellantis brands as well as Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler, because straight sixes have become common in German cars, featured by BMW and Mercedes, among others. It would also likely have higher output or efficiency, at much lower cost, than current Maserati V6 engines, one of which is based on the Chrysler Pentastar and the other on a Ferrari design (both were developed by Ferrari), and as a GME engine, was engineered with turbocharging and hybrid applications in mind. If Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and the like do use the turbo six, their version may well have a different block, heads, fuel injection system, and so on.”

A 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI® V-8 engine travels down the assembly line at FCA’s Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant. The engine will power the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, making it the quickest, fastest and most powerful mass-produced half-ton pickup truck in the world.

Rumors state that the engine will be manufacturer in the Saltillo, Mexico engine plant, but MJ could not verify that rumor. Will this engine, or could this engine ever make it’s way into our Jeeps? I guess we will just have to wait and see…

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