Jeep and Ram’s 3.0-litre turbo inline-six engine revealed early

New models from Jeep and Ram will soon gain a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol engine, leaked Stellantis documents indicate, which could develop close to 400kW and 750Nm.

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Global car giant Stellantis – the merger of French car giant PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) and US conglomerate Fiat Chrysler – has let slip that production of a new “high-output” turbocharged inline-six has begun, destined for next-generation Jeep and Ram four-wheel-drives and utes.

Temporarily listed on Stellantis North America’s official media website – and seen by Drive prior to its removal – production of the 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol inline-six – codenamed ‘GMET6 HO’, with the latter pair of letters referring to ‘high output’ – commenced on November 22 at the conglomerate’s Saltillo, Mexico factory.

While the Stellantis website doesn’t list which models the new inline-six will be used in, online news outlet Autoevolution cites a spreadsheet published by the car-making conglomerate’s Italian research and development centre, which indicates the mill will be offered under the bonnet of the ‘DT’ Ram pick-up range, Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer.

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Details of the new engine remain thin on the ground, though patent images filed in recent years (above) suggest the GMET6 – believed to be derived from the 2.0-litre ‘GMET4’ four-cylinder in the Alfa Romeo Giulia, among other models – will employ twin turbochargers.

Power outputs are yet to be announced, though sources have reportedly told US website MoparInsiders the GMET6 (or ‘Tornado’) engine will be offered in three primary states of tune: a ‘standard output’ (SO) variant, a ‘high output’ (HO) variant, and a third version for use in a plug-in hybrid system.

The publication claims the engine will debut in mid-2022 in high-output (HO) form in the US-market Jeep Grand Wagoneer luxury SUV, with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant to be made available shortly after. Outputs will reportedly soar as high as 392kW – though it’s not clear if this figure applies to the HO or PHEV variant.

Insiders have also confirmed variants of the GMET6 will be paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission capable of supporting a torque output of up to 750Nm – suggesting that in production trim, some versions of the engine will produce between 600Nm and 700Nm (comfortably below the transmission’s limit, ensuring reliability).

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With an end date confirmed for the 500kW-plus 6.2-litre supercharged ‘Hemi’ V8 – and the future of the Stellantis group’s 5.7-litre and 6.4-litre V8s threatened by ever-stringent emissions rules – it’s likely the new 3.0-litre inline-six will come to feature across much of Jeep, Dodge and Ram’s model ranges, also replacing the ageing 3.6-litre ‘Pentastar’ V6.

Recent rumours suggest the engine is earmarked for the next-generation, petrol-powered Dodge Challenger and Charger muscle cars – which will reportedly be sold alongside a new electric Dodge muscle car in 2024 – though these models are yet to be confirmed.

With the first reference to the GMET6 engine appearing on the Stellantis group’s website – and rumours suggesting its first beneficiary will launch in the US in mid-2022 – it’s likely further official details of the new 3.0-litre turbo inline-six will be released in the coming months.

It remains to be seen if and/or when the new engine reaches Australian showrooms, under the bonnet of a Jeep or Ram model.

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