Dodge's HurriCrate Inline-Six Brings 550 HP to Home Builders

Nearly two years after Dodge first teased a new set of six-cylinder crate engines, the race-ready powertrains have finally arrived. Known as the Dodge Direct Connection HurriCrate series, these upgraded 3.0-liter Hurricane motors promise to deliver the perfect centerpiece for your next project.

The HurriCrate powertrains are the latest offering from Dodge’s Direct Connection performance parts catalog, which returned to the aftermarket in 2022. The original program actually started back in 1974 this year, with the HurriCrates arriving just in time for the anniversary celebration. Dodge has two variants of the motor on offer, known as the HurriCrate Cat 1 and Cat 3 (think of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale). The Cat 1 is rated at 420 horsepower and 468 Ib.-ft, or around 140 hp per liter. For reference, those are the same figures that the Standard Output Hurricane provides in the 2025 Ram 1500.

For those you need a bit more performance, you can step up to Cat 3 model, which provides 550 horsepower and 531 lb.-ft. That figure matches the horsepower output of the upcoming Charger Six Pack model. The crate motor does bring 11 lb-ft more torque than the Charger, however. That extra output comes as the result of forged pistons, as well as 26 psi of boost running through the twin-turbo setup.

Getting your hands on Dodge’s latest powertrain isn’t going to come cheap. A complete Cat 1 setup currently carries an MSRP of $10,495, with the longblock running $7,995. The Cat 3’s extra performance means it rings in at $13,745, while the incomplete motor carrying an $11,715 price tag. Dodge has also teased a more potent variant of the Hurricane inline-six due later on, which should rival the monstrous four-digit Hellephant Hemis. The previously announced DC1 and DC2 gearboxes made to bolt to the back of the HurriCrate engines aren’t listed on the Direct Connection site as of now, but should not be too far behind the motors. Customers can take up to $200 off the purchase price of a HurriCrate motor through November 8 if you contact a Dodge Power Brokers dealer.

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