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FCA Inline-Six Engine Could Be Based On 2.0-liter GME Turbo

With the 2.0-liter Global Medium Engine and the 2.2 MultiJet II in the Alfa Romeo Giulia, the engineers at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have refreshed the four-cylinder engine lineup. The 1.0- and 1.3-liter three- and four-cylinder powerplants in the Jeep Renegade followed up, but FCA won’t be stopping here.
Chrysler Pentastar V6 8 photos
Photo: FCA
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Love it or hate it, the Pentastar V6 is getting on a bit. In addition to age, the six-cylinder suffers from cylinder head failure and overheating of the valve seats. The cam phasers, oil filters, and cap O-rings also leave much to be desired from a naturally aspirated engine.

The thing is, Fiat Chrysler is expected to introduce an all-new design at the Dundee plant in Michigan and in Trenton, Michigan. According to allpar.com citing “reliable sources,” the engine would arrive in the form of a “smooth, compact straight-six based on the GME.”

So far, the inline-six engine is believed to displace 3.0 liters, representing a considerable drop from the 3.2 in the Jeep Cherokee and 3.6 in countless FCA applications. Lower taxation in Europe is considered to be the reason for capping displacement at 3.0 liters.

“Ferrari is likely working on a different engine from the same core architecture for Maserati,” and lest we forget, the Prancing Horse is also expected to bring back the V6 layout of the next generation of the Dino sports car.

Even though Jeep wasn’t a part of Chrysler back then, the final inline-six used by a Chrysler model is the AMC straight-six. Over the years, the engine grew to 4.0 liters. In 2006, the Jeep Wrangler TJ phased out the motor as the Wrangler JK welcomed a 60-degree V6.

Considering that Fiat Chrysler was supposed to use forced induction on the Pentastar V6 to keep it relevant for the next handful of years, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if the inline-six will go turbo at some point in the future. Electrification is another certainty, starting with a mild-hybrid setup similar to the eTorque system in the 3.6 Pentastar and 5.7 HEMI.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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