Grand Cherokee

Make
Jeep
Segment
SUV

All good things must come to an end. But, that also means a new beginning. This appears to be the case over at Stellantis, parent company to the Jeep and Ram divisions. Last December, we reported about the new 3.0-liter inline-six, internally known as the GME T6 (Global Medium Engine Turbocharged 6) that will be utilized in a variety of future models that'll utilize the also-new Stellantis Global medium platform.

This architecture will, more than likely, underpin the next Challenger, Charger, several crossovers, and trucks. There's a very good chance this engine will replace the aging 5.7-liter Hemi V8. At the time we didn't know details about a potential engine reveal date but today is a different story. Autoblog brought up the topic with Jeep brand chief Jim Morrison at this past week's Chicago Auto Show.

Although he didn't provide any precise details, he answered the question as follows: "Are you coming to New York?" He's referring to the recently confirmed 2022 New York Auto Show in April. So yes, we know the engine is coming in less than two months' time, but the question is in which vehicle(s)? At present, the only two Stellantis models with the 5.7-liter Hemi are the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer.

There's a very strong possibility the new inline-six will appear in on (or both) of those. If we had to guess, our pick would be the Grand Cherokee. It's smaller, lighter, and therefore more fuel-efficient than the larger Wagoneer.

It'd help make a compelling case for the new engine's improved fuel efficiency at launch. The Grand Cherokee's lower price tag also means it sells in greater volume than the brand's flagship, thus helping Jeep comply with the latest CAFE standards. We still don't know specific details about the new engine's output but, for reference, the (now turbocharged) 5.7-liter Hemi produces 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque.

Its replacement engine's output should fall within a similar range but its greatest strength will be improved efficiency. This new engine is a big deal for another reason: it'll be the last new combustion motor from Stellantis before its complete shift to electrification within the next decade or so.