The Nissan 3.5-liter VQ V6 engine has been named to the annual Ward’s 10 Best Engines list for the 12th straight year by Ward’s Communications, Inc. It is the only engine that has been part of the list every year the award has been presented.
The versatile 3.5-liter VQ version powers many Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, including the Nissan Altima, Maxima, 350Z, Murano and Quest, as well as the Infiniti G35 Sedan and Coupe, the Infiniti FX35 crossover utility vehicle and the all-new Infiniti M.
The VQ engine has been improved for the 2006 model year. The engine in the G35 when mated to an automatic transmission now produces 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm, and 270 kg-m of torque at 4,800 rpm. This represents an increase of 20 horsepower and 10 kg-m of torque in the G35 sedan.
When mated to the six-speed manual transmission, horsepower in both the G35 Sedan and Coupe increases to 298 at 6,200 rpm. The VQ engine sees its highest-ever output with the 2006 350Z, which is tuned for 310 hp.
Voting for the best 10 engines was a team of six editors and writers for Ward’s AutoWorld magazine and Ward’s Engine & Vehicle Technology Update newsletter. The panel judged dozens of engines in a wide variety of vehicles.
Takeshi Nakajima, Regional Director, Nissan Middle East, commented: “The VQ engine proved to be a master piece and an all times winner. It is installed in most of Nissan models as part of Nissan’s commitment to its customers not only in terms of expansion but also in offering best quality and performance.”
Ward's Communications is a world-leading provider of auto industry news, data and analysis, having served the industry's information needs for nearly 80 years. Ward’s AutoWorld is a monthly magazine serving more than 68,000 automotive professionals globally. The twice-monthly newsletter Ward’s Engine & Vehicle Technology Update provides analysis of engineering advancements and technical issues.
