The Pentastar engines were created by Chrysler engineers for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram; a Ferrari-re-engineered version is built for Maserati. In May 2015, FCA announced that they had made five million Pentastar V6 engines.

The Pentastar 3.6 liter V6 engine pumps out 305 horsepower in the Dodge Challenger and the 2013 Ram. It matches prior-generation Hemi V8 0-60 times (6.6 seconds). With the nine-speed AWD setup in the Chrysler 200, it is good for 0-60 in 6.4 seconds. The more fuel-efficient, but less powerful, 3.2 liter V6 is used in the Jeep Cherokee.

A 3-liter twin-turbo version is on the way (it will probably be less powerful than the 404 horsepower version used by Maserati). Direct injection is coming with the “PUG” Pentastar upgrade, around calendar-year 2015-16. It might be waiting for low-sulfur gasoline.

The Pentastar enabled major V6 engine components to be cut from 189 parts to just 32. Exhaust manifolds are cast directly into the cylinder head (32 different exhaust manifolds had been used). Intake assemblies, which together accounted for 32 different part numbers, have been slashed to two upper and two lower assemblies. Camshaft variations have dropped from 14 to four; fuel rail assemblies dropped from 14 to two. (These figures are from before the 2013 Ram and the 3.2.) Fully dressed, the 3.6 liter Pentastar V-6 is 94 pounds lighter than the 3.7-liter engine (Grand Cherokee) and 42 pounds lighter than the 3.5-liter (Chrysler 300).

See our deep look at the Pentastar V6, specifications, repairs, and the factory.

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