Topic: Chrysler Pentastar V6 gets major upgrades; Jeep planning pickup play

[Autos_Editor]

New motor should address low-end torque complaints
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[OliverD]

Hopefully this new Pentastar will make it into the '17 Wrangler which I believe is the last model year for the current generation.

A Wrangler pickup seems like a no brainer but I wonder if they've avoided building one because enclosed SUVs are traditionally more expensive than the equivalent pickup truck and that model might compromise profitability (especially if they expect some sales cannibalism).

[JohnnyMac]

Jeep pickup, yes please.  No one is missing the Dakota truck so giving us a Jeep truck would be a great way to enter that 1/4 tonne (or whatever they call it now) segment.

I've always liked the Pentastar engine, I don't think they should have focused on this so much because they have more concerning problems with their 9 speed tranny to worry about.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Yeah, I thought the Gladiator was a no brainer too. I was really surprised when they didn't go ahead with it.

[ArticSteve]

Chrysler is sticking with port fuel injection, rather than moving to direct injection. On paper, that sounds like a missed opportunity to further lower fuel consumption, but direct injection comes with its own long-term maintenance compromises–mainly, carbon deposits on the intake valves that get washed away in port-injection motors–that FCA was perhaps happy to avoid having to deal with down the road.

Good for them.  Much easier to deal with a 57 psi fuel system than 2200 psi when out of warranty.

[redman]

Jeep pickup, yes please.  No one is missing the Dakota truck so giving us a Jeep truck would be a great way to enter that 1/4 tonne (or whatever they call it now) segment.

I've always liked the Pentastar engine, I don't think they should have focused on this so much because they have more concerning problems with their 9 speed tranny to worry about.

We have the 3.6L Pentastar engine in our 12 JGC. I agree with the statement that the current engine could use more lower end torque. I thought that had more to do with the transmission than the engine in our vehicle. The current JGC uses a 8 speed transmission not the 9Spd as found on the Cherokee and some other FGA products here. Ours was the last year of the MB 5Spd transmission. F.E. is surprisingly good, achieving as low as 12.4L/100 this summer with mixed driving.

I'd like to see a wrangler inspired pickup but only with the 3.0 VM diesel for me.

Current D.I. engines seem to have there downfalls with the current sulfur levels in fuel. I think it's a good decision for forgo D.I. for port injection until cleaner gas standards are the in full effect. Unless FGA can do something like Toyota's D-4S combining both D.I. and P.I. where best optimized.

[sly]

Address low-end torque complaints? Why bother with a 3.6 V6 gas guzzler engine? Just give me a 2.5 turbo-diesel four. That will give you torque, and economy, and durability, and low maintenance... and so on...

[Fobroader]

I hope a truck happens, with a V8 or a diesel.

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[mixmanmash]

Jeep pickup, yes please.  No one is missing the Dakota truck so giving us a Jeep truck would be a great way to enter that 1/4 tonne (or whatever they call it now) segment.

I've always liked the Pentastar engine, I don't think they should have focused on this so much because they have more concerning problems with their 9 speed tranny to worry about.

1/3 tonne?

[northsparrow]

1990s Jeep Comanche, 1980s Jeep Scrambler

Everything that's old is new again.

[tooscoops]

Address low-end torque complaints? Why bother with a 3.6 V6 gas guzzler engine? Just give me a 2.5 turbo-diesel four. That will give you torque, and economy, and durability, and low maintenance... and so on...

other than the pentastar not being a "guzzler", having better durability, less maintenance.... and so on than most, if not all turbo fours...


anywho, yes to the jeep pick up in whatever variation they want to do it. i don't even care if it's based off something other than the wrangler, i think it would do well.

the 3.6L is a solid engine that seems to do impressive numbers and a pretty good amount of power in most of its applications. hopefully the tweaks don't take away from any of its positive traits.

[Fobroader]

HEMI>Pentastar.....maybe not Hemi, too many sparkplugs for its own good, but a V8 of sorts.