In a bid to catch up with rivals, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] will finally update its Pentastar V-6 with some power boosting technologies such as turbocharging, direct fuel injection and improved variable valve timing. The benefit is that the upgrades should also see fuel economy improve, helping FCA meet tightening corporate average fuel economy standards.
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The information was reported by Automotive News (subscription), citing an anonymous source. The source also revealed that the first of the upgraded engines, referred to internally as PUG (Pentastar Upgrade) engines, will appear in a significantly updated Jeep Grand Cherokee due out next fall. The move is fitting as the Grand Cherokee was the first FCA vehicle to feature the Pentastar V-6 when the engine was introduced back in 2010.
Another vehicle set to receive the PUG engine mentioned by the source is the next-generation Chrysler Town & Country minivan due in 2016. The introduction of the engine as well as a nine-speed automatic transmission should improve the vehicle’s fuel economy at least 25 percent over the current model’s 17/25 mpg city/highway EPA rating.
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Stay tuned for an update.
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