titan

The new 3.7L direct-injection twin-turbo V6 that was shown in the Infiniti Essence concept is scheduled to make its debut in the redesigned M sedan that is due in early 2010. According to CARandDRIVER, the engine will most likely find its way into the G37 coupe and sedan.

The 3.7L direct-injection twin-turbo V6 is good for producing about 340 to 350-hp while increasing fuel-efficiency.

What happened to the Q and are we ever going to see one on the road again? Sources say that Infiniti’s U.S. division is eagerly looking for a $70,000 - $80,000 car to justify its luxury-performance stance against Lexus. A group of dealers recently visited Japan and were shown a four-door version Essence concept car that could hint at the future Q.

Nissan is also cutting its V8 family from two to one - meaning the new passenger car V8 will be shared with the SUVs. The new V8 will also get direct-injection technology but will not be offered in the new M sedan or the G sedan and coupe.

titan

^ I disagree with the idea of the next M not getting a V8 option. The FX50 makes 390HP now, and it can easily produce more; imagine what the DI version will be capable. While the 3.7L DI Twin Turbo making 340-350HP sounds fantastic, it should be the M/G's base engine, which would again make them the HP leader of they're respective segments (which is important to Infiniti). A DI V8 should be standard for the next Q, and an option for the M, IMHO.

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

^ Disagreeing with yourself?

biker

Memo to Nissan: the HP wars are over.

Sure use DI, but not to up HP levels but to increase fuel efficiency - while you are at it feel free to cut about 300-400lbs off the G.

titan

What do you mean?

titan

I think they're using the twin turbos and DI to both increase Hp and fuel efficiency; they probably see it as a win win... + 1 on the G's weight.

(Cj)

sounds like good news, and with the torque that a twin-turbo DI 3.7L G would have


Acura should have invested in a turbo J37, instead of turbo K23 .

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

Nothing. Crappy joke.

dom

Insert car of choice from any manufacture for X. Weight is hardly and Infiniti specific problem.

(Cj)

TMQ

I'm surprised that the twin turbo doesn't do more to increase HP compared to what the V6 already does; maybe it'll do more on the torque side.

I think it's time that Honda/Acura get their engineers to work hard on the turbos. Maybe it'll be out with the new CUV?

Brandon24pdx

The 370Z crowd over at my350Z.com is already drooling over this one. Going back to that for the Z would be a mistake IMO. Im sure the DI upgrade will find it's way into the new Z before too long though.

DrewSRX

This article is totally wrong, messed up, and confusing.

Read the original here, it explains everything:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...new_q_car_news

The M is getting a DI V6 and V8, with more than 390HP.

The G37 will be getting the same engine as the M37.

The new VQ won't have Turbo's.

titan

^ Agreed. The car and driver aritcle is much clearer. It's a shame that the cash crunch and current economy is affecting the development and approval on the next gen Q. Still, I think it's wise to continue to invest heavily in Infiniti's cash cows (the G and M) as indicated in the article. I look forward to seeing the next M. I hope the article's true and the M's interior gets upgraded.

JD23

Unfortunately, constantly increasing US safety standards will not allow significant weight reductions. At the rate we're going, cars will soon be required to have something like 98 airbags.

biker

^ Many current items are being added as a competitive/marketing thing - not a requirement. Folks want a quieter cabin - makers add 200lbs of sound deadening materials (including a heavier, thicker windshield), instead of saying NO!

fredren

Correct the original article said the M50 will be the new FLagship sedam with more hp than the fx50 and none of the DI v6's will have TT just DI.

titan

Yeah, the M is the defacto flagship of the brand, like the RL is for Acura. That said, I hope they Infiniti does proceed with a new Q to have have a "proper flagship" to compete with the A8, S-Class, 7-Series, and LS.

fredren

Forget the Q, Acura needs a new Flagship ASAP!

Brandon24pdx

Yeah Acura is getting right on that one

(Cj)

GreenMonster

Since you didn't supply a link to the story, some people might incorrectly assume you were stating your opinion instead of just posting someone else story...

We like links to the original story here, actually, it's more than like, it's a rule.

MaximaPower

VQ 3.7 with DI should do 340-350 hp without TT

biker

^...only at elevated RPMs and with no inprovement to tq - which the turbo will easily add.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

There's improvement in torque too, the torque curve is basically lifted up with DI (the IS350 makes more torque than both J37 and VQ37 with its 3.5L displacement, but not even close to the 335i's torque...lol). The question is whether it is worthwhile to have DI in terms of cost, flexibility, and complexity.

Edward'TLS

I think it is not a question of worthwhile or not, it is a question of when (to do it). DI is the latest engine technology which is braced by an increasingly number of car makers because of the power boost and better fuel economy it has demonstrated.

DI is the next steping stone to engine advancement, just like variable valve timing technology which is now fully adapted by almost all major car makers.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

Well, DI isn't a very new technology as diesel engines have them for many years, it's only new for gasoline engines. But yea, I would imagine sooner or later most cars will have it.

03TL-S

LOL. Acura needs to get the their midsize RL right before they can even think about making anything above it.

Edward'TLS

Without V8 and RWD chassis, Acura will never get the fullsize RL right.

biker

^ the chances of any maker investing a whole lot in a V8 engine development are fairly low. Acura has a "good enough" power train in their V6s - it's all the rest of the things they have to get right - including the big one, exterior looks.

fredren

I think with DI incorporated in the new J37 motors, Acura should be able to have a healthy bump of Hp, i would say in the range of ~340. It should also help with parent co Honda's goal of being the "most fuel efficient automaker in the U.S". Imo i think they should also add DOHC to these 3.7L motors and then they definitely wouldnt need a v8. i can see 380hp/350lb-tq from a 3.7L direct injected DOHC i-Vtec V6 motor.

TSX69

Infiniti Phasing Out V8 Engine Exec Says

Infiniti has confirmed that future development of V8 engines will come to an end, thanks to stricter fuel economy and CO2 restrictions. That’s not to say that we’ll see V8s disappear immediately from the Japanese automaker’s lineup, however.

Johan de Nysschen, Infiniti global president, explained that powertrains have a much longer life cycle than the actual vehicle model, which means for now we’ll continue to see the current stable of V8s under the hood of select Infiniti models. But future generations of the lineup will cease to have a V8 option. Currently V8s are found in the FX and M sedan models, along with the QX SUV.

Chances are, future generations of those models will see either turbocharged 4- or 6-cylinder engines to replace the V8, offering similar performance but much better fuel efficiency. Hybrid powerplants and even EVs may also found their ways as replacements as the Japanese automaker will shift its efforts into finding more efficient ways to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics on its vehicles.

“I don’t think any car that is on Infiniti drawing boards from here onwards we should expect a V8 to be included in that plan,” de Nysschen said in a recent interview.

Cautiously though, the Japanese automaker even went so far as to say that “real top performance cars right now – will become extinct.” An ominous statement of course, but with such a strong focus on fuel efficiency and emissions, it’s hard to imagine that performance won’t take a back seat to engine development.

biker

This news should have been obvious to anyone paying attention to the news out of the administration and EPA. Honda was clairvoiant and saw this coming 20 years ago and that's why they never developed one.

Moog-Type-S

Thanks CAFE.....

ttribe

This.

F23A4

...and with the Lexus GS dropping their V8 as well, maybe Honda really was ahead of its time by not incorporating a V8 in the Legend/RL.

Edward'TLS

Good move by Infiniti.

Infiniti is never, and has never been, in the same league as Audi, BMW, Lexus, and MB. It's about the right time to give up and leave the V8 engine option to the exclusive group of Tier-1 auto clubs.

charliemike

You forgot the red text

YEH

Not going to happen.

Nissan already has enough problems trying to generate sales for the M and is cutting development costs by purchasing some powerplants from Daimler and likely a platform for a smaller Infiniti model.

As for V8s, don't expect the Germans to drop them anytime soon.

Going further into the future, they likely will go w/ boosted, smaller displacement V8s.

TSX69

Nissan to Install Steer-by-Wire in Infiniti Cars

Nissan Motor Co. plans to equip some of its luxury cars with a system to control steering electronically, rather than mechanically, the 1st time so-called "steer-by-wire" technology will be used in mass-produced vehicles.

The new technology will be introduced in some models of the Infiniti brand within a year, Nissan said at a briefing, paving the way for cars that could 1 day be steered by joysticks and be programed to avoid crashes automatically.

Traditionally, the steering wheel of a car and the tires are linked mechanically, giving the driver direct feedback about steering from the tires on the road.

Using steer-by-wire, inputs made by the driver through the steering wheel are transmitted to a computerized engine control unit, which instructs an actuator how to move the tires.

The cars will also have a backup clutch that will link the steering wheel and tires mechanically in the event of any problems, but Nissan hopes this won't always be needed.

"In the future, if we are freed from that, we would be able to place the steering wheel wherever we like, such as in the back seat, or it would be possible to steer the car with a joystick," said Masaharu Satou, a Nissan engineer.

Nissan demonstrated the technology to reporters last Friday ahead of its official announcement on Tuesday.

Various automakers have already introduced the technology in concept cars, including Audi's A2 unveiled in 2011. But Nissan is the 1st to apply it for mass-produced cars, said Nissan engineer Toshiharu Asai.

Under the new system, the driver's intentions are transmitted more quickly to the wheels because of the quick speed of electronic signals, Asai said. Drivers can also maneuver cars more easily as the system cuts out what it deems as unnecessary feedback from the tires to the driver.

Nissan also demonstrated a system that automatically steers a car away from an object if it detects a likely crash. It hopes to apply this in some cars in the next 3 to 5 years.

By using radars, laser scanners and a camera, the system automatically brakes if it senses a risk of crashing into a person, object or another car, then steers the car to a free zone if there is 1, Nissan engineers said.

"We are thinking about the essentials -- what kind of a tool should cars be for humans? By controlling its hands and feet, as well as the eyes and the brain, cars are on its way to becoming an extension of robots," said Tetsuya Iijima, a Nissan engineer.