Since its debut in 2011, Chrysler’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 has been one of the automaker’s premier engines with more than five million units produced and available under the hood of almost every Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram product. For 2016, this engine is getting some big changes that are expected to return better power, efficiency and refinement.

Just like the original Pentastar, the updated 3.6-liter will be making its debut on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and as quickly as this engine spread across the current Chrysler lineup, the new mill promises to be even more adaptable, so we will likely be seeing it appear in even more products in the future.

Every aspect of the engine was considered when the improvements were being designed, and the extensive changes show just that. Chrysler has yet to reveal exact torque output or fuel economy figures for the updated Pentastar, but it is saying that torque – especially low-end torque – will increase by almost 15 percent while fuel economy will be up by about 6 percent. Additionally, the 2016 Grand Cherokee will be rated at 295 horsepower compared to the 290-horsepower rating of the current model.

Power and torque have increased thanks to the new intake manifold that features longer runners and a recalibrated Variable Valve Timing. Both improvements help deliver more torque at lower engine speeds (1,000 rpm to 3,000 rpm). The upgraded VVT also allows for expanded use of automatic stop-start, which means that this fuel- and emissions-saving technology will be offered on additional models beyond the Chrysler 200 and Ram 1500.

Speaking of fuel economy, several enhancements were made to the Pentastar for this purpose, starting with the two-stage Variable Valve Lift, which accounts for almost half (2.7 percent) of the gain by reducing the workload on the engine. The engine was also given a higher compression ratio, new fuel injectors (still port injected rather than direct) and high-energy ignition coils, adding another 1.5-percent increase, while an EGR cooler and reduced-friction internal components each add about 1 percent fuel economy gains.

And to finish it all off, the revamped 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 also went on a diet, now weighing in at 326 pounds. This is four pounds less than the current engine, despite adding 13 pounds of content.

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Why it matters

The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 has already made the Ward’s 10 Best Engines list three times in its short lifespan, and these 2016 model year changes will easily make one of the best engines on the market even better.