Latest Dodge Revelations Suggest Gas Engines Are Actually Here to Stay
Two months ago, the car world was set to go electric in a decade. Now, much of that appears to have gone up in smoke as gas makes a comeback.
Two months ago, the car world appeared set to go all-electric within a decade. Now, following a fortnight of shock changes, much of that plan appears to have gone up in smoke. And judging by some startling new revelations, Dodge and its sister badges already appear to be flying in the face of electric motoring wisdom.
Against all expectation, Stellantis recently revealed an all-new 3-liter biturbo gas straight six. Now it seems that the Hurricane lump is not the only gas engine to step out of the Stellantis shadows to defy Dodge and its sister brands’ alleged electric shift. Reading between the lines it is increasingly evident that gas engines may very well be here to stay after all.
EVs Are Coming Under Increasing Pressure
On the back of several other problems facing EVs on top of sales slipping in the wrong direction as early adopters alarmingly now appear to be only adopters, the EU last week turned its back on draconian Euro 7 regulations supposed to nail the ICE coffin closed for good. Now European carmakers need only meet current emissions laws subtly massaged to encourage the future use of green fuels.
That news came shortly before Stellantis propulsion boss Mickly Bly revealed that far from becoming extinct, Dodge and its sibling brands will indeed introduce several additional new gas engines in the coming years. Much to the delight of petrol heads the world over, Bly even went into quite some detail about what’s coming…
A 2-Litre Gas 4-Pot version of the Hurricane I6
First off, Bly confirmed that the new Hurricane six already on sale in some Jeep models and coming soon to the next Dodge Challenger, has potential well beyond its current 500-plus horsepower. Then he went on to hint that an all-new 2-liter inline four, effectively the 3-litre Hurricane straight six with two pots lopped off, will soon join its full-sized sibling.
Bly also confirmed the current Pentastar V6, already confirmed as the generator for the next RAM 1500 hybrid, will still be sold for a while to come. He went on to describe two new ‘low-displacement and big diesels’. Fiat’s 2-litre four-cylinder MultiJet is a possibility. As are, oil-burning versions the Hurricane straight-six and its 4-pot sibling.
A European Gas Three-Cylinder For the Entry Level
In perhaps the biggest surprise, Bly suggested went on to suggest a European three-cylinder engine solution for future US economy models. Scratching a little, Peugeot-Citroen’s multiple Engine of the Year aspirated and up to 145 HP turbo 1.2-liter 3-cylinder PureTech gas engines have a long down-sizing pedigree. PureTech is a ready 3-pot solution for US introduction.
So, while Stellantis continues to fly the EV hype kite along with the rest of the auto industry, it is clear that it still has great gas engines plans that stretch well beyond ICE cut-off deadlines under its sleeve. And with Europe’s 2030 ICE ban now in the can, who knows how significant this move back to gas engines really is? Time certainly will tell!
Photos: Stellantis
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