Dean - that was a great post, but I disagree about the easiest, most cost effective thing. The N54 is not just the old 3.0L with some turbos slapped on it; they developed a whole new engine, probably something that was a lot more costly than just making a higher compression, longer stroke version of the same old VQ.

 

I wouldn't go that far. I've read that it has 80% new parts. C'mon, the thing has two throttle bodies and a 7500 rpm redline!

 

OK not to try to bash the G for it's weight but check out how much a Chevy Impala weighs
http://www.chevrolet.com/impala/specifications/


I found that kinda funny

 

it is pretty funny to know the Range Rover sport supercharged is as heavy as the G35 which is lighter than the G37!

 

November 2002 here, bwahahahaha

 

Not really. ie.. the Acura GSR put out the magic 100 hp per liter. But I do know as the engine gets larger that feat gets harder to accomplish. BMW has always lead the industry in NA engine development. ie.. 330hp out of 3.2 liters.

I will guess that going turbo allowed the 3 series to keep up the hp war w/o using the expensive V8. Remember this is their 1st year with this engine. Nissan is pretty much at their development end for this VQ. All they have left is to punch it to 4.0 liters as they did with the truck? BMW has just scratched the surface on this engine. Tuners are already getting what .. 30-50 hp at the wheels with exhaust and a simple ecu tweak?

Personally I think some type of TT I6 will power the next gen M series. They are just getting the production bugs out with the 3 series. I mean look at the displacement. It's only 3.0 liters. Punch it to 3.2, 3.5 or 3.7 with the exact same boost and boom, way more power.

 

Actually, BMW does not lead the industry in NA engine development...Honda does with the 240 hp 2.0 liter S2000. You can't compare a FI engine with a NA engine, even though the 3.7 VQ does a decent job against a stock 335i-.3 seconds off the 0 to 60 and 1/4 mile times and 3 mph lower trap speed. The factory FI engine will always produce more aftermarket power. It will interesting to see how this all pans out over the next few years. I believe Nissan still has a few tricks up its sleeves with the VQ before boring/stroking to 4.0. After all, the compression is only at 10:5 with no direct injection.

Personally, I think Infiniti should stand up a performance division and offer the TT 3.7 in the G37 and shed some weight with alcantra seats and make the 3.7 standard across the board in the regular sedan and coupe. This will allow the NA 3.7 to compete with the 328 and the TT engine to compete with the 335. HP should be around 400 for the 3.7 TT "stock" as to not encroach on the GT-R's numbers. I'd be first in line to buy one.

Kaboom,

The cars have very similar weights, but post the options packages for the Chevy and the Infiniti and you'll see who didn't do their homework.

 

Who knows who leads in NA development. Honda doesn't even have a V8, BMW/Mercedes etc have V8s, V10s, V12s, etc. The S54 was punched to 343hp @3.2L with an 8000 redline and an 11.5:1 compression ratio, and that was 7 years ago. Let's just say they are all a bunch of smart guys who know how to make good engines, it's a great time for gear heads.

 

If Honda leads the industry, then how much hp does their V6s make?

IMHO if Nissan was serious about NA, then they wouldn't have elected to go FI for the GT-R. Cheap and easy right?

Again the NEW TT BMW motor is ONLY 3.0 liters and is at the very beginning of it's development. Nissan is almost at the end of it's development.

 

You cant get everything for nothing. Nissan needs to make the GTR competitive to the 911. The 911 will have power on tap (w/ aftermarket turbo upgrades, ecu's etc). Plus Nissan has to factor the developmental costs. If they mad a NA engine that powerfull, 911 guys would bump up boost and leave, now the Nissan guys have an aftermarket to bump up boost and stay w/ the 911s too.

Would you pay 120g for a NA nissan? or 60 for a TT Nissan thats just as good?

As per the honda comment, Im not a Honda fan, but I agree w/ the honda statement of best NA engine. If its no feat, how come no1 else in the industry has a 2.0 pushing 240 hp? We're talking best HP/Liter and that 2.0 240hp is best HP/Liter compared to the V6, V8, V10, V12's made by so many other companies. So imo Honda still holds that trophy. Damn Honda Mothorsports (HOMO)!

 

But as I've said, as the displacement goes up, it become increasingly more difficult to make 100hp per liter.

That S2000 motor DID make high hp. But at very HIGH rpm. And looka that the torque figures. No better than other 2.0 motors. So although this engine made 240hp, it only works if you put it in something VERY light. It's why you don't see this motor powering anything that weighs significant. ie.. if it makes 240hp why not use instead of the V6 in the accord? Weight and Torque.

Not sure why a na nissan would cost 120g though.

 

Skylines with turbos are a legacy. (the enthusiast will tune them to 600-1000 hp) as they have done in the past.

The 930/911 turbo is a legacy of Porsche. Does that mean their 911 GT2 and GT3 weren't serious NA cars?

 

Not all skylines were turbo for one.

And the RB26DETT is LEGENDARY. Not the new skyline with the VQ. Plain and simple, Nissan couldn't get that much hp out of their V6. They would have to seriously tune their V8 to do that (maybe) Hard to say what tuners will be able to do with it. RB is not VQ

 

Noone said all Skylines were turbo. The GTR is turbo and 4wd to follow the traditional formula of what made the Skyline known for its extreme perfomance.

It does not indicate in anyway they Nissan/Infiniti is not serious about their NA motors which was your original statement.

 

Jeff, do you live in the Seattle area? What do you drive?