Would You Buy a Ram Truck With a 500 Horsepower Inline-6?
Ram may soon be the first American truck company to toss its naturally-aspirated V8 in favor of a turbocharged six-cylinder. The powerplant in question is Stellantis’ new Hurricane engine: a twin-turbocharged inline-six. The high output Hurricane promises to get 500+ horsepower. Is that enough ponies to make you trade in your V8?
| 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) |
| Horsepower | 363-395 horsepower | 400+ horsepower | 470-485 horsepower | 500+ horsepower |
| Torque | 394-410 lb-ft | 450+ lb-ft | 470-475 lb-ft | 475+ lb-ft |
| Boost | Naturally-Aspirated | 22 psi | Naturally-Aspirated | 26 psi |
Is Ram coming out with a new engine?
The 5.7-liter HEMI V8‘s days are numbered. In March 2022, Stellantis unveiled an all-new engine, a twin-turbocharged straight-six for its full-frame Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles. This new engine is called the Hurricane. The I6 is more fuel efficient–and more powerful–than the 5.7L and 6.4L V8s in Ram trucks.
When will we see Ram begin to offer the Hurricane? Well the automaker has been known to make major drivetrain changes in the middle of a generation (such as the upgrade from a six-speed auto to an eight-speed). The Ram 1500 is a due for a mid-generation refresh around 2023, so this would be a perfect time to begin offering the I6.
Another interesting choice would be for Ram to offer the I6 in its heavy-duty 2500 and 3500 first, hoping fleet buyers leap at the increased fuel efficiency. Heavy-duty Ram buyers are already fond of a six-cylinder, turbocharged inline engine: the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel.
Even if Ram tosses its V8s as soon as the 2023 model year, it would only be the second global truck maker to do so. Toyota debuted its third generation of the Tundra for the 2022 model year with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 and no V8 option.
How much HP does a Hurricane have?
This new turbocharged I6 comes in two variants: The standard output Hurricane that will make 400+ horsepower and 450+ lb-ft of torque. But if you want more power, the high output Hurricane will make 500+ horsepower and 475+ lb-ft of torque.
Stellantis splitting the new engine into two output options will be familiar to Ram owners: the Hurricane is taking a page out of the 6.7-liter Cummins’ book with this solution. But Ram drivers will also want to know how the new gasoline engine drives.
The new Hurricane I6 can make 90% of its maximum torque at just 2,350 rpm. Then, it can maintain this output all the way to its red line.
The way Stellantis’ engineers achieved this was opting for a pair of small turbochargers instead of one big one. The smaller turbos have less mass and thus can spool up quickly. The result should be a more rapid throttle response than in other turbocharged engines.
Who makes Ram engines?
Many Ram engines, such as the Pentastar V6 and its HEMI V8s date back to the brand’s Dodge days. But the new Hurricane I6 flips the script: it is currently only built at a Ram plant, in Saltillo, Mexico–even though its going into Jeep and eventually Dodge products.
Ram’s next-generation engine will be fuel efficient, powerful, and responsive. But is that enough for you to trade in your naturally-aspirated V8 or V6 Ram for a turbocharged I6 version? Only you can decide.
Check out Dodge’s historic slant-six engine or see the latest on the new Hurricane I6 in the video below:
