More Evidence of a New Engine for Future Jeeps, Rams

A yet-to-be-revealed engine that’s kept the rumor mill in Mopar circles churning continues to make its possible presence known. It’s an engine supposedly tapped for a new line of Fiat Chrysler products, and might find a home in existing vehicles, too.

It’s an engine that comes to the table with (arguably) the sexiest cylinder layout on the market: six of ’em, all in a row.

We’ve discussed the existence of this engine development program before, but a not-too-recent patent uncovered by MoparInsiders sheds a bit of new light. The FCA patent isn’t for an engine; rather, it’s for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system that’s mated to one. However, the engine this EGR system is shown with happens to be an inline six of the turbocharged variety. That’s the same engine type that’s kept the rumor mill alive.

Sources tell the publication that the engine, of unknown displacement(s), will offer somewhere between 360 and 525 horsepower — perfect for lugging around large vehicles with authority. Large, rear-biased vehicles. Should it arrive, its output and layout would make it an obvious choice for the Ram 1500 and a number of rear-biased SUVs, among them the upcoming Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. With FCA paying big bucks to offset its man-sized fuel economy footprint, a turbo six could offer meaningful MPG improvements to several popular large models.

The rumored engine is expected to utilize FCA’s upcoming E-Booster; essentially, an electrically operated turbocharger that builds up boost right from idle, eliminating turbo lag. Mild electrification is already spreading through the FCA stable via the company’s eTorque engines.

While it’s too early to declare the Pentastar V6 and Hemi V8 endangered, the patent is another hint that their presence could soon become less dominant among full-size FCA vehicles.

[Image: Fiat Chrysler]