Chrysler Group has presented details of its new "Pentastar V6" engine which will will debut in the new Jeep Grand Cherokee this year and may find its way into future Alfa Romeo and Lancia models, although it will require much new technology first. The new Pentastar engine will ultimately replace seven current Chrysler Group V6 engines and in the future will utilise advanced technologies from the Fiat alliance such as MultiAir, direct-injection and turbocharging.

“First offered in the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, launching this year, our all-new Pentastar V-6 engine allows increased flexibility to apply new technologies and enables significant cost savings for the company by substituting previous generation V-6 engines,” said Paolo Ferrero, Senior Vice President—Powertrain, Chrysler Group LLC. “By 2014, the new V-6 will account for more than a third of our total engine output and contribute to an overall fuel economy improvement of more than 25 percent.”

In the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine will deliver 290 horsepower (216 kW) at 6,350 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) of torque at 4,300 rpm. While this adds up to an increase of 38 percent in horsepower, the new unit, which replaces one of the oldest and most inefficient V-engines on the market today, only manages an 11 percent jump in torque, while more worryingly in the current automotive industry's hunt for efficiency, Chrysler says that the Pentastar V6 offers only an 11 percent fuel economy improvement which means Fiat's engineers will need to urgently press forward with the introduction of new technologies. For Alfa Romeo enthusiasts' who have been faced with the deficiencies of the current GM-derived V6 engine fitted in the Alfa 159, Spider and Brera, there will be caution that history isn't set to repeat itself.

Customers Benefit: Fuel Efficiency, Refinement, Quality, Low Cost of Ownership

Chrysler Group Powertrain engineers benchmarked the industry’s leading engines to set functional targets. The result is an all-new engine with an ideal integration of select technologies that delivers refinement, some fuel efficiency and performance. Chrysler Group’s all-new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine features double-overhead camshafts (DOHC) and a high-pressure die-cast aluminum cylinder block in a 60-degree configuration. Additional features include a narrow-included valve angle, cylinder head and high-flow intake and exhaust ports. This design, combined with dual-independent-cam phasing, allows optimum volumetric and combustion efficiency over the full speed and load range, resulting in an exceptionally flat torque curve along with high specific power—the engine’s torque exceeds 90 percent of its peak value from 1,800 to 6,350 rpm, providing customers with outstanding driveability and responsiveness, without the need for premium fuel.

“Our engineers synthesised the best combination of design features and technologies to create a V-6 engine that will exceed customer needs,” said Bob Lee, Vice President—Engine and Electrified Propulsion Systems Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. “The elegantly simple design maximizes functionality and provides class-leading levels of refinement, fuel-efficiency, performance and cost of ownership.”

The oil-filter system eliminates oil spills and contains an incinerable filter element for more efficient disposal than typical oil filters. The use of long-life spark plugs and a high-energy coil-on-plug ignition system also helps to reduce maintenance costs. The Pentastar V-6 is designed to run on regular gasoline, offering a 10 percent reduction in fuel cost compared with premium fueled engines. The engine also is flex-fuel capable, offering consumers the choice of gasoline or E85 fuel.

All-new Chrysler 3.6-liter, DOHC, 24-valve Pentastar V-6 Technical Specifications

Displacement: 3.6 liters
Bore x stroke: 96 x 83 mm
Valve train system: Double-overhead cam with roller finger followers and hydraulic lash adjusters. Dual independent cam-torque actuated phasers
Fuel injection: Multi-point port fuel injection
Construction: High-pressure die-cast aluminum cylinder block and semi-permanent mold aluminum cylinder head
Maximum engine speed: 7200 rpm
Fuel requirement: E85 (Ethanol) or unleaded regular, 87 octane (R+M)/2
Emission capability: PZEV