FCA Builds 5 Millionth Pentastar V6 Engine

 

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles hit a huge production milestone last month when they produced their 5 millionth Pentastar V6 engine. The aluminum cast engine was introduced in 2009 at the New York Auto Show, and started on the market in Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep 2011 models.  

Of all the U.S.-produced FCA vehicles sold in 2015, 47 percent were equipped with Pentastar V6 engines. With 3 different displacements, the Pentastar V6 engine currently powers 14 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram models on the market today. The most used displacement is the 3.6-liter, which is used in models like the Chrysler 200, Ram 1500 and Dodge Charger. The other two variants, 3.2-liter and 3.0-liter, are currently used in Jeep models like the Cherokee, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. 

Pentastar V6 engines are produced in two U.S. facilities in Michigan and one facility in Mexico. The architecture of the engine has led to its continued success over the years. There are equally sized V6 delivering more horsepower, but hardly any of them match the Pentastar's versatility in powering so many current and future vehicles. 

"The success of the Pentastar V-6 engine family continues to be a testament to our powertrain engineering prowess," said Bob Lee, Vice President - Engine, Powertrain and Electrified Propulsion, and Systems Engineering, FCA - North America. "This engine delivers world-class performance in multiple displacements and vehicle applications around the globe. We're extremely proud of how this engine family has evolved to provide our customers with a wide range of performance capabilities."

The success of the engine has been proven with dozens of awards and benchmarks, including numerous best-in-class horsepower benchmarks. The Pentastar V6 was a three-time member of the Ward's 10-Best Engines List. The engine also brought awards to both the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 for best-in-class fuel economy including unsurpassed combined and city fuel economy. 

It is believed that FCA is getting ready to include several new variants to the Pentastar family, including a twin-turbo-charged V6. A turbo-charged 3.6-liter factory is anticipated to be released late this year, making this successful engine even more versatile and adaptable to the market.