Stellantis installs its new F1-inspired petrol engine at Jeep and Ram... Europe is still waiting

Unveiled in autumn 2025, the new 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo engine from Stellantis was not just another technical announcement in the usual stream of industry releases. At the time, the group promised a more powerful four-cylinder petrol engine, more efficient and, above all, more technologically sophisticated, with the added bonus of a clear F1 connection. Several months later, in April 2026, this engine is no longer a promise: it is now starting to take its place under the hoods of real models. And while the USA is already enjoying the benefits, Europe remains on the sidelines.

An engine born in 2025, but just beginning its career

When Stellantis presented this new evolution of its 2.0-liter gasoline engine at the end of 2025, the announcement came as something of a surprise. Behind the Hurricane 4 Turbo name lay much more than a calibration update or a simple increase in power. The Group was talking about an all-new engine capable of developing 324 hp and 450 Nm of torque, with a parallel reduction in fuel consumption of 10 %.

At first glance, this might seem a logical evolution of the 2.0L GME already widely known in the Stellantis galaxy. In fact, this engine is already used in numerous variants, from 200 or 280 hp versions to the more muscular variants found in certain Jeeps and Maseratis. But the real novelty lay elsewhere: in its combustion.

F1 technology from Maserati

This new gasoline engine is not just more powerful. Its real innovation lies in its combustion, with the adoption of TJI technology, for Turbulent Jet Ignition. Behind this technical name lies a principle directly inspired by the world of motor racing, and often compared to Formula 1: the combustion pre-chamber.

It works in a more sophisticated way than a conventional gasoline engine. A small chamber above the cylinder initiates initial combustion, before spreading the explosion into the main chamber via turbulent jets. The benefits are manifold: combustion is faster, more precise and more complete, resulting in greater power and improved efficiency.

At Stellantis, this technology doesn't come from nowhere. It has already found a prestigious showcase in Maserati's Nettuno V6, launched on the MC20 and subsequently used on other Maserati models. The new four-cylinder Hurricane 4 Turbo takes up its spirit, but in a much broader application, designed for mass-market vehicles.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 2026 is already adopting it

What was only a promise in October 2025 is now an industrial reality. The first iconic model to receive this engine is the Jeep Grand Cherokee 2026. Jeep makes no secret of the fact: its SUV now relies on this new 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo to improve its performance on internal combustion versions.

On the official Grand Cherokee 2026 page, the brand clearly highlights this new turbocharged petrol engine, combined with a new-generation transmission. The numbers speak for themselves: 324 hp, 332 lb-ft of torque, or around 450 Nm. The message is crystal-clear: this engine has to do better than the old naturally-aspirated V6 in almost every respect, with more vigor, greater efficiency and a more modern image.

Initial tests confirm that Stellantis has done more than simply inflate the technical specifications. Road & Track, which was able to take in hand a Jeep Grand Cherokee L 2026 equipped with this engine, describes it as more lively than the old Pentastar V6. This four-cylinder engine is more energetic, better served by its automatic gearbox, and brings a real boost of responsiveness to the large American SUV. Not everything is perfect, notably a slight response time at low revs, but the overall conclusion is clear: this new engine really improves the Grand Cherokee's driving pleasure.

Ram Rampage also benefits, with a different version

Interestingly, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is not alone. The Ram Rampage also offers a 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo petrol engine. On the model's official website, Ram announces 272 hp and 400 Nm of torque on the R/T version, with a 0 to 100 km/h time of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 220 km/h.

This shows that Stellantis is not reserving this engine for a single application. It's already starting to distribute it on several vehicles, with different calibrations for different markets and uses. In the case of the Grand Cherokee, the aim is to gradually replace an aging V6 in a family SUV with status. In the case of the Rampage, the aim is to offer a more dynamic pick-up, capable of high performance while remaining compatible with local constraints.

An American engine... but with an Italian soul

That's the paradox of this machine. On the one hand, it is produced in the USA, notably in Dundee, Michigan, with components also coming from Kokomo in Indiana. It is therefore primarily designed for the North American market, where Stellantis still needs powerful, profitable combustion engines for its Jeep and Ram models.

On the other hand, its media and technical interest stems largely from its link with Italy. Without Maserati and the Nettuno V6, this new four-cylinder would probably not have attracted so much attention. The pre-combustion chamber technology used here is a direct reference to the work carried out around Maserati.

Europe looks the other way... or rather waits

Although this engine is starting to take root in the Jeep and Ram ranges, no official announcement has yet been made to suggest that it will soon be arriving in Europe. That's quite something. The claimed technology draws part of its inspiration from Maserati, and thus from Stellantis' Italian engineering, but it's the American markets that are reaping the first benefits today. In the meantime, the Old Continent has seen nothing.

This absence inevitably raises questions. Yet such an engine could make sense on several of the Group's future hybrid or top-of-the-range models. Alfa Romeo, for example, will have to continue reconciling performance, electrification and regulatory constraints.

But for now, this scenario remains hypothetical. In April 2026, the reality is much simpler: the new Hurricane 4 Turbo petrol engine begins its commercial career far from the European continent.