A recent filing adds bones to rumours to a return of the inline six-cylinder engine format for the Italian-American automaker.

A new patent seems to confirm rumours Fiat Chrysler (FCA) is developing a new turbocharged inline six-cylinder petrol engine.

Mopar Insiders has discovered a patent on the US Patent and Trademark Office website for exhaust gas recirculation system for a turbocharged petrol engine.

The patent, which was approved April this year, features an explanatory diagram with a straight-six engine.

Sources have told the website, the inline six-cylinder engine will have a displacement of around 3.0 litres and use "E-Booster" technology to reduce turbo lag.

Power for the engine family is expected to range from around 270kW up to about 390kW for performance variants.