New Jeep I6 ‘Tornado’ Engine

I was talking to my salesman yesterday and he mentioned the new Stellantis I6 Tornado engine is coming out in a month or so on the Wagoneer. He said that it will be about 470 HP (similar to the 6.4). While he didn’t hear any official word, he said he’d be surprised if the new engine didn’t replace the 6.4 on the flagship Wrangler for MY23. Sounds like this may be the last year of the 392, thankfully I got my 392 XR order in about a month before they closed the order books on the XR because this thing is about to become a real collectors item, despite the rising gas prices. Although, this new engine has me intrigued from a fuel efficiency standpoint, there is just no replacement for displacement!

 

[hardhat]

I was talking to my salesman yesterday and he mentioned the new Stellantis I6 Tornado engine is coming out in a month or so on the Wagoneer. He said that it will be about 470 HP (similar to the 6.4). While he didn’t hear any official word, he said he’d be surprised if the new engine didn’t replace the 6.4 on the flagship Wrangler for MY23. Sounds like this may be the last year of the 392, thankfully I got my 392 XR order in about a month before they closed the order books on the XR because this thing is about to become a real collectors item, despite the rising gas prices. Although, this new engine has me intrigued from a fuel efficiency standpoint, there is just no replacement for displacement!

I love turbo engines too. They sound so cool spooling up. But my 392 is the coolest sounding vehicle I've ever driven. Cooler than the mercedes s65 v12. Cooler than a 5.0 mustang. 392 owners, get on the throttle in a tunnel )))). Makes me grin just thinking about it. It resonates like it might cause an earthquake

 

[Uncommon Sense]

I am curious as to how the 392 will evolve. I wouldn't be surprised if the take it up a notch with the i6 but I still think the "392" will be highly sought after for many years to come.

 

[YukonCornelius]

We do know that the 6.4 won’t be offered in the Dodge muscle cars, not completely official, but is the most likely scenario (today, with the push for all EV) so I’d see Jeep offering it through then as well. From all press releases thus far, production on the GME started in December, being built alongside the 6.2, 6.4, and 5.7…. Which means, initially at least, it will be offered alongside the aforementioned engines, not as a replacement.

Hopefully before then, Stellantis and all the others wake up and realize all EV is impossible and the US infrastructure needs rebuilt essentially - which they don’t seem to want to address. Cart before the horse….

 

[clickclickboom]

I want to see a JT XR with this new 525hp engine and larger axles. If this comes out I want to be first in line.

 

[byhumba]

I would have liked this Tornado engine more in a bigger displacement than 3.0.

 

[Uncommon Sense]

I want to see a JT XR with this new 525hp engine and larger axles. If this comes out I want to be first in line.

I suspect any new XR package on the 392 (Or whatever replaces it) will be pretty aggressive to keep up with what the bronco raptor is offering. 37s, Top of line shocks, bigger axles....

 

[Foxbat]

There is no free lunch, unfortunately. Using turbos on small 4/6 cylinder engines may make the HP specs look comparable to V-8's, but torque is generally in the higher rpm range than V-8's, engine longevity is inevitably affected, more frequent oil changes and diminished towing capability, which is not so much an issue with Wranglers as truck buyers. Then add in the increased cost and maintenance of turbo engines vs naturally aspirated and for what benefit?
The new Bronco 2.7L turbo gets relatively the same MPG as many 4.6L-5.3L V-8's, but I'd be willing to bet they will never sniff 150K miles or have the same reliability.

The golden age of engine reliability is over.

 

[YukonCornelius]

The golden age of engine reliability is over.

Yup. See “why we love our port-injected HEMIs”

 

[hardhat]

I suspect any new XR package on the 392 (Or whatever replaces it) will be pretty aggressive to keep up with what the bronco raptor is offering. 37s, Top of line shocks, bigger axles....

All that stuff is going to slow it down.... A big chunk of the reason I go the 392 XR is for straight line acceleration and utility. Not to mention it is the one of the only 4 door convertibles in the US. I don't think off roading is going to be the primary focus of most 392 owners, but it is cool to have the off road ability for when you are in a pinch and need it or just to go have some fun. The on road prowess of this beast is where it is at for me.
It is mind blowing how short of a distance this thing gets up to 45mph. Just get on it hard next time you are pulling out in traffic and see how close you are to the car in front of you when you reach road speed.

You can pull out in traffic and people will be changing lanes to get around you...............little do they know, they won't even get close to you before you get up to road speed. Then they are faced with a dilemma. Do they speed up and pass you to prove that they were right in changing lanes, or do they admit their error and get back over behind you......

 

[Foxbat]

Yup. See “why we love our port-injected HEMIs”

That's why I have a Jeep 392 on order instead of a Bronco. When Ford announced the Bronco, I was all over it... until I saw the engine choices.

 

[Uncommon Sense]

All that stuff is going to slow it down.... A big chunk of the reason I go the 392 XR is for straight line acceleration and utility. Not to mention it is the one of the only 4 door convertibles in the US. I don't think off roading is going to be the primary focus of most 392 owners, but it is cool to have the off road ability for when you are in a pinch and need it or just to go have some fun. The on road prowess of this beast is where it is at for me.
It is mind blowing how short of a distance this thing gets up to 45mph. Just get on it hard next time you are pulling out in traffic and see how close you are to the car in front of you when you reach road speed.

You can pull out in traffic and people will be changing lanes to get around you...............little do they know, they won't even get close to you before you get up to road speed. Then they are faced with a dilemma. Do they speed up and pass you to prove that they were right in changing lanes, or do they admit their error and get back over behind you......

Don't disagree. I went with XR because of straight line acceleration. I won't be off roading at all. I don't need anything else... however, there are guys that would want 37s, etc.

 

[hardhat]

I agree. Funny thing is, if they had offered it with 37's I probably would've bought it with 37s, but now that I have it, the 35s are big enough and look good with the stock ride height. Sometimes, don't really know what you want until you get it.

And with 37s it will be king of the offroad. The V8 has a massive presence and I'm sure will be top of the food chain almost everywhere it goes.

 

[bwoodbmw]

My guess is this spells the beginning of the end for our lovely yet very thirsty V8. ESPECIALLY with the announcement that the bronco raptor won't have a V8. I'm never one to believe that a vehicle is a good deal from a $$ perspective but 392s (especially with XR) could hold resale value decently well if the V8 gets the boot.