Jeep could be preparing a significant powertrain expansion for the Grand Cherokee, with the WL-generation SUV reportedly scheduled to receive Stellantis’ twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six for the 2028 model year. According to MoparInsiders, information from a source close to the Jeep program, supported by a leaked document, points specifically to the Standard-Output (S.O.) version of the Hurricane rather than the higher-output variant. Jeep has not officially confirmed the program.
If the Grand Cherokee receives the same calibration used in other Stellantis applications, the S.O. Hurricane would produce approximately 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque. That would give the Grand Cherokee substantially more output than its current 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which produces 324 hp and 332 lb-ft. It would also surpass the performance figures of the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 that disappeared from the Grand Cherokee after the 2023 model year.
Hurricane Replaces the Hemi Strategy
The reported engine installation represents a different approach from simply restoring the Hemi V-8. The 5.7-liter Hemi previously provided the Grand Cherokee with 360 hp and approximately 390 lb-ft of torque, along with a maximum towing capacity of up to 7,200 pounds. The Hurricane’s greater torque output could allow Jeep to recover some of the capability lost when the V-8 was discontinued.
The move also fits Stellantis’ broader strategy of differentiating Jeep from Dodge. Stellantis American Brands chief Tim Kuniskis has previously said that returning the 5.7-liter Hemi to the Grand Cherokee “doesn’t make sense,” indicating that the company wants Jeep and Dodge SUVs to maintain distinct product identities.
Jeep Has Already Put the Hurricane in a Grand Cherokee
One of the most significant aspects of the report is that Jeep has already demonstrated that the Hurricane inline-six can be installed in the Grand Cherokee.
During an SRT demonstration at the Conner Center in Detroit, engineers reportedly showed a Grand Cherokee development vehicle equipped with the High-Output Hurricane and an experimental eBoost Air electric compressor system. The prototype reportedly demonstrated that the long inline-six could be packaged within the WL platform despite earlier concerns surrounding engine-bay and front-structure modifications.
The development vehicle should not be confused with the reported 2028 production configuration. The prototype used the High-Output Hurricane and experimental forced-induction technology, whereas current information points toward the lower-output 420-hp-class S.O. engine for the production Grand Cherokee.
420 HP Could Transform the Grand Cherokee’s Powertrain
The S.O. Hurricane is already used elsewhere within the Stellantis portfolio with an output of approximately 420 hp and 468 lb-ft. Applying that specification to the Grand Cherokee would create a substantial gap between the current four-cylinder and the forthcoming six-cylinder.
More importantly, the inline-six would deliver its additional performance without requiring Jeep to resurrect the Hemi. The combination of twin turbochargers, six cylinders and 468 lb-ft of torque would provide the Grand Cherokee with a considerably stronger powertrain for acceleration, highway performance and towing.
Towing may ultimately be one of the most important reasons for the change. The current Grand Cherokee’s maximum rating is 6,200 pounds, while the previous Hemi-equipped model could tow up to 7,200 pounds. Jeep has not announced a towing rating for the reported Hurricane-powered model, but the additional torque gives engineers more headroom to position the six-cylinder version above the current four-cylinder.
Production Details Remain Unconfirmed
Despite the increasingly detailed reporting, the 2028 Hurricane Grand Cherokee remains unconfirmed by Jeep. Final horsepower, torque, towing capacity, fuel economy, transmission calibration, available trims and pricing have not been announced.
The significance of the report is therefore less about the precise 420-hp figure and more about the direction of the Grand Cherokee’s powertrain strategy. Jeep appears to have a technically viable path toward restoring higher output and greater towing capability without returning to the 5.7-liter Hemi.
If the reported program reaches production, the 2028 Grand Cherokee would become the latest application for Stellantis’ Hurricane inline-six and could substantially reshape the performance hierarchy of the WL lineup. For now, however, 420 hp and 468 lb-ft should be treated as expected figures based on the existing S.O. Hurricane, rather than confirmed 2028 Grand Cherokee specifications
Source: MoparInsiders