Dodge's decision to offer a series of crate engines based on its new Hurricane 3.0-liter inline-six is a brilliant move. It also adds further fuel to the rumor that the Hurricane will power Dodge's next-generation muscle cars. It's an open secret that it will be used in Jeep and Ram products, but not as a replacement for the V8 models, but rather in addition.
The standard engine is available in two states of tune: a Standard Output with over 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, and a High Output version, with over 500 hp and 475 lb-ft.
Direct Connection will offer two HurriCrate engines for now. You can read the full specs in our announcement article, but we'll give you the basics as a reminder.
The HurriCrate Cat 1 produces up to 420 horses and 469 lb-ft of torque, while the Cat 3 delivers up to 550 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque. The Cat 1's maximum torque arrives at 2,500 rpm, while the Cat 3's maximum twist comes at 1,000 rpm later. Dodge is also working on a racing variant called the Cat X, but it's still under development.
Naturally, one of the highlights of the new inline-six is improved fuel economy. Not to mention the more compact dimensions, meaning it can be used in a wider variety of products. The Cat 3 is also more potent than the existing 392 V8 Crate Hemi Engine, which produces 485 hp and 475 lb-ft. The Cat 1 beats the 345 V8 Crate Hemi Engine, which has 383 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque.
It's an exciting alternative to the norm, so we decided to compile a list of cars that would work beautifully with this new HurriCrate engine.
Chrysler 300
We bid farewell to the Chrysler 300C SRT a few years ago due to a lack of interest. Chrysler brought it back (in spirit, at least) earlier this year, and it sold out in less than 12 hours. There's still demand for the speedy American sedan, styled to look like it had a starring role in an early 2000s gangster movie.
The Cat 1 and Cat 3 engines would work in the first- and second-generation 300. The Cat 3 has much more power and torque than the final edition's 6.4-liter V8. The Cat 1 has more power than the more popular 5.7-liter V8.
You can buy a decent 2005 to 2007 300 RWD Touring for roughly $6,000. Add the price of the HurriCrate engine, and you have a 550-hp old-school muscle car. If you already own one, even better.
Jeep Wrangler JK
Dropping a V8 under the hood of a Wrangler was so popular that Jeep eventually buckled and made the 392.
Wrangler guys love to build unique creations, and the new HurriCrate options give owners of the third-generation JK the chance to eliminate the terrible 3.8-liter V6 the car launched with. As you can read in our used review, the 3.8 was a sturdy engine, to begin with, but many of them died at around 150,000 miles due to poor maintenance.
We wouldn't go all the way to Cat 3, but the Cat 1 is perfect. As mentioned earlier, it produces 469 lb-ft at just 2,500 rpm. Add the effect of low-range gearing, and you have a car ideally suited for rock crawling.
Ram 1500
Pick a generation, and it will be perfect. We quite like the idea of bolting a Cat 1 or Cat 3 under the hood of an early 1980s Dodge Ram 100. There is historical context as well. The first-generation Ram was launched with a 3.7-liter inline-six as the base engine, so fitting a newer inline-six makes it extra special.
It's also a great way to breathe new life into a trusted workhorse or to give a project car a decent turn of speed.
We also like the idea of buying an SRT-10 body without the Viper's famous 8.3-liter V10 engine. The V10 truck produced 510 hp and 535 lb-ft of torque. The Cat 3 engine has more, so imagine meeting up with another SRT-10 and embarrassing them with an inline-six engine.
Dodge Grand Caravan
There's nothing remotely interesting about the Dodge Grand Caravan. It's a bland minivan with a dull exterior.
It was also overlooked once Dodge decided to Hellcat all the things, but for a good reason. The engine bay is relatively small and only has room for Stellantis' naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 engine. A Hellcat V8 simply wouldn't fit, but we checked the dimensions of the new HurriCrate six, and it would slot in there nicely.
The engine mounts likely won't match, but that's a small price to pay for having the fastest minivan on the school run. The other parents will look pathetic in their plug-in hybrid family wagons.
Dodge Challenger & Charger
Dodge sells a lot of Challenger and Charger V6 models. They're affordable, easy to insure, and sort of brisk.
But let's be honest. The only reason to buy a V6 is that you can't afford the V8. There's nothing wrong with that. You buy what you can, save up, and work harder until you can. But now, that option has been removed. Dodge will no longer be selling V8 Challengers and Chargers from the end of next year. And getting a 2023 model is a tough ask, as the vast majority has already been allocated to the dealerships. The markups will be insane.
But if you have a V6 that's a few years old and you've saved up enough money to go V8, get a HurriCrate engine instead. It will be much faster than any of the non-supercharged models. It will probably handle better with the lighter engine up front.