Hurricane Chrysler: new 2.0-liter engine makes landfall in 2016

By Stephen Edelstein Published September 22, 2013

chrysler hurricane engine tigershark — Chrysler will soon have engines named Tigershark and Hurricane. We suspect the American automaker to next announce the Sharknado to complete its ocean themed naming scheme. Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s called Hurricane…how could it not be good?

Chrysler will launch a new four-cylinder engine with an epic name for 2016. It help Auburn Hills compete with the downsized engines other carmakers are launching to in a bid to increase fuel economy.

Recommended Videos

Actually, only this engine’s cylinder head is named Hurricane. The rest will be a reworked version of Chrysler’s 2.0-liter inline-four, which is called Tigershark. Someone at Chrysler drinks too much caffeine.

According to Chrysler, a new head will make all the difference. According to Automotive News (sub. required) it will use new technologies to increase fuel efficiency. Chrysler isn’t saying what those technologies are; they’ll presumably be revealed closer to the engine’s 2016 launch.

The 2.0-liter is definitely due for an update.

The small Chrysler four-banger dates to the early 2000s “World Gas Engine” project, a collaboration between (at the time) Daimler-Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai. It received a few updates after Chrysler’s marriage to Fiat, but did not get the same “MultiAir” variable valve lift tech as the 2.4-liter Tigershark four.

In its current form, the non-Hurricane 2.0-liter produces 160 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. It’s currently in the Dodge Dart and the Jeep Compass and Patriot.

The Hurricane had better bring some devastating improvements in power and fuel economy, if Chrysler wants to stay competitive.

Four-cylinder engines are quickly becoming the go-to powerplants for mainstream cars, as manufacturers look for fuel-efficient powertrains that are cheaper and less complex than hybrids. The Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, and Mazda6 are all powered exclusively by four-cylinder engines. Having a second credible four-cylinder in the lineup would probably help Chrysler.

Plus, who wouldn’t want to say they have a hurricane under their hood?

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Eaton, Treehouse to boost home capacity for EV charging, energy storage

eaton treehouse ev charging news releases

Power-management firm Eaton likes to point out that when it launched in 1911, it invested in a new idea -- the very first gear-driven truck axle -- just at a time when both transportation and power management were on the cusp of dramatic change.
More than 113 years later, Eaton is again seeking to lead innovation in the current energy transition.
The power-management firm just signed a deal with Treehouse, an AI, software-enabled installation platform for electrification projects. The end goal: accelerating the electrification of homes for electric-vehicle (EV) charging, energy storage, or heat pumps, while seeking more efficiency and cost savings.
“At Eaton, we’re all-in on the energy transition and we’re making it happen at scale by delivering breakout technologies and industry collaborations needed to delight customers and make it more accessible and affordable,” says Paul Ryan, general manager of Connected Solutions and EV Charging at Eaton.
The partnership will ensure consumers are provided with accurate and fast pricing, as well as access to licensed electricians to deliver code-compliant installations, the companies say.
The collaboration also integrates into Eaton’s “Home as a Grid” approach, which supports the two-way flow of electricity, enabling homeowners to produce and consume renewable energy when they need it, Eaton says.
“For more than a century, power has flowed in one direction—from centralized power plants into homes,” the company says. “Today, there’s a new reality thanks to solar, electric-vehicle charging, energy storage, digitalization, and more.”
Projects to change homes and EVs into energy hubs have multiplied recently.
Last month, Nissan joined ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda. ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects EVs to power grids and utility companies, enabling consumers to receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. Eventually, consumers should also be able to sell the energy stored in their EVs’ battery back to the power grid.
In August, GM announced that V2G technology will become standard in all its model year 2026 models. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted that Tesla could introduce V2G technology for its vehicles in 2025.

Cars

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and EVs offer big incentives as year nears its end

chrysler dodge jeep ev incentives record my24 hybrid gallery 04 exterior desktop jpg image 1440

It’s no secret that automakers and dealerships typically climb over each other to offer the best incentives before the year ends. But this year’s sales season is expected to be particularly competitive, with slowing sales translating to greater urgency to clear inventory.

According to research from Kelley Blue Book, the respected vehicle-valuation firm, overall incentives on new vehicle sales were up by 60% in October compared to the previous year.

Cars

Jeep, Ram EREVs will get 690-mile range with new Stellantis platform

A 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger sits in a vineyard.

Stellantis, the giant automotive group, is betting big on extending the range of both its hybrid and fully electric vehicles (EVs).

Last month, the company, which owns the Jeep, Dodge, and Ram brands in the U.S., invested nearly $30 million into an advanced wind tunnel at its research center in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The goal is to study airflow around a vehicle’s wheels and tires to further optimize its EVs and boost their range.