Slant-6 Motor Could Return to Jeep by 2020
Future Slant-6 inline-six could be based upon FCA’s Global Medium inline-four engine found in the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee.
Once upon a time, Chrysler had an engine unlike any other around. This engine had a 30-degree engine block angle, bested the rest of its class upon its introduction, and has an earned reputation for durability and reliability. We speak, of course, of the Slant-6 inline-six, found in Chrysler’s collection of vehicles from 1959 through 1987, though none ever made their way into a Jeep from the factory.
It may not be long before a Jeep has a Slant-6, though. Autoweek recently reported that FCA’s engineers may be working on an inline-six to go with their range of Global Medium Engine inline-four engines, which could mean a return of one of the most amazing engines ever designed.
While the original Slant-6 was a clean-sheet design, the new Slant-6 could be based upon the GME inline-four architecture, currently found under the hood of the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, and China-only Grand Commander. Such an engine, per the magazine’s source at Allpar, would likely be assembled at plants in Dundee and Trenton, Michigan, the former of which is near the Wrangler plant in Toledo, Ohio.
A new Slant-6 would start at 2.99 liters of displacement, mainly for tax reasons in certain European countries, though it’s possible there would be larger sizes for the U.S. market; after all, there is no replacement for displacement. And of course, with FCA’s new compact head design placed upon a properly tilted bank of cylinders, there would be plenty of room to stuff mods into the engine bay of a modern Slant-6.
The new motor would also give FCA a way to power trucks like the upcoming Jeep Wrangler-based pickup without dropping down into the four-cylinder full-size truck market, which would be a huge gamble to play on truck buyers who want tons of power and even more torque. Only time will tell if we’ll find a Slant-6 under the hood of our 2020s Jeeps.
Top photo: Autoweek
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