VQ - Why?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 553
VQ - Why?
Does anyone know if there's any reason why the VQ engine is called the VQ? They seem like some pretty random letters to put together. I thought this would be an interesting little fact to know. Many engine's designations come as a kind of serial production letter, like LT1 to LT4, or the "H" designation in VIN numbers on Chevy's was probably the 8th configuration of a 305 V-8 engine for a Chevy since it came out. However, either the V or Q are pretty high up there in the alphabet to imply anything like this.
Just interested in a little Maxima trivia.
Just interested in a little Maxima trivia.
Donating Maxima.org Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 577
Sometimes automakers pick out letters to designate models that have more visual or audible distinction. For a lot of cars, the letters to designate trim levels are just semi-random selections.
And then a lot of people jump on the band wagon.
Notice how the letter "Z" is used a lot in high performance contexts.
Nissan has the "Z" cars. BMW has their "Z" series (Z3, Z4, Z8) which are some of their sportier cars. Many high speed tires come with a "Z" rating.
Ford also went the copycat route the use of the letter Z by making a "ZX-2" Escort and pass it off as something sporty. Chevy made a Lumina a few years back with some ground effects and shiny exhaust tip and called it a "Lumina LTZ".
Nissan was probably trying to be subliminal when they used the letters "SX" for the 240. What vowel would most people put in between those two letters? That would all be lost on non-American markets and that is probably why the mid-90's 240SX is called the "Silvia" in Japan.
You might be surprised how much thought (and money) goes into picking out some of the letter designations and names for cars.
Of course, a letter or name that we pronounce in English might mean something obscene or offensive in another language so a lot of thought goes into that as well.
BMW went the wise route and used numbers to name their cars. Of course, they seem to like the letters "M" and "Z" as well.
And then a lot of people jump on the band wagon.
Notice how the letter "Z" is used a lot in high performance contexts.
Nissan has the "Z" cars. BMW has their "Z" series (Z3, Z4, Z8) which are some of their sportier cars. Many high speed tires come with a "Z" rating.
Ford also went the copycat route the use of the letter Z by making a "ZX-2" Escort and pass it off as something sporty. Chevy made a Lumina a few years back with some ground effects and shiny exhaust tip and called it a "Lumina LTZ".
Nissan was probably trying to be subliminal when they used the letters "SX" for the 240. What vowel would most people put in between those two letters? That would all be lost on non-American markets and that is probably why the mid-90's 240SX is called the "Silvia" in Japan.
You might be surprised how much thought (and money) goes into picking out some of the letter designations and names for cars.
Of course, a letter or name that we pronounce in English might mean something obscene or offensive in another language so a lot of thought goes into that as well.
BMW went the wise route and used numbers to name their cars. Of course, they seem to like the letters "M" and "Z" as well.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 553
Chevy must have been a forerunner in the "Z" field with the Z-28 then.
This is probably why the Chevy Nova never sold very well in latin coutries. (Nova ~ No Va = Doesn't Go (in Spanish)).
Of course, a letter or name that we pronounce in English might mean something obscene or offensive in another language so a lot of thought goes into that as well.
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 878
well usually the first letter is for engine type. VQ a V, VG a V, VE a V. but that doesnt explain nissans use of KA, CA, SR and RB for their inline engines. all the V engines have the same V as first letter, real question is what the second letter means.
Originally posted by chris j vurnis
Sometimes automakers pick out letters to designate models that have more visual or audible distinction. For a lot of cars, the letters to designate trim levels are just semi-random selections.
And then a lot of people jump on the band wagon.
Notice how the letter "Z" is used a lot in high performance contexts.
Nissan has the "Z" cars. BMW has their "Z" series (Z3, Z4, Z8) which are some of their sportier cars. Many high speed tires come with a "Z" rating.
Ford also went the copycat route the use of the letter Z by making a "ZX-2" Escort and pass it off as something sporty. Chevy made a Lumina a few years back with some ground effects and shiny exhaust tip and called it a "Lumina LTZ".
Nissan was probably trying to be subliminal when they used the letters "SX" for the 240. What vowel would most people put in between those two letters? That would all be lost on non-American markets and that is probably why the mid-90's 240SX is called the "Silvia" in Japan.
You might be surprised how much thought (and money) goes into picking out some of the letter designations and names for cars.
Of course, a letter or name that we pronounce in English might mean something obscene or offensive in another language so a lot of thought goes into that as well.
BMW went the wise route and used numbers to name their cars. Of course, they seem to like the letters "M" and "Z" as well.
Sometimes automakers pick out letters to designate models that have more visual or audible distinction. For a lot of cars, the letters to designate trim levels are just semi-random selections.
And then a lot of people jump on the band wagon.
Notice how the letter "Z" is used a lot in high performance contexts.
Nissan has the "Z" cars. BMW has their "Z" series (Z3, Z4, Z8) which are some of their sportier cars. Many high speed tires come with a "Z" rating.
Ford also went the copycat route the use of the letter Z by making a "ZX-2" Escort and pass it off as something sporty. Chevy made a Lumina a few years back with some ground effects and shiny exhaust tip and called it a "Lumina LTZ".
Nissan was probably trying to be subliminal when they used the letters "SX" for the 240. What vowel would most people put in between those two letters? That would all be lost on non-American markets and that is probably why the mid-90's 240SX is called the "Silvia" in Japan.
You might be surprised how much thought (and money) goes into picking out some of the letter designations and names for cars.
Of course, a letter or name that we pronounce in English might mean something obscene or offensive in another language so a lot of thought goes into that as well.
BMW went the wise route and used numbers to name their cars. Of course, they seem to like the letters "M" and "Z" as well.
All of that has nothing to do with the internal designations for different engines...
Originally posted by ivelweyz
RB stands for Race Bred, Nissans race engine...
RB stands for Race Bred, Nissans race engine...
Originally posted by D1NOnly34
I think they just have all 26 letters of the alphabet in a hat and pick two letters randomly to save the enourmous amount of money they would have to spend on a professional to think ot things like this.
I think they just have all 26 letters of the alphabet in a hat and pick two letters randomly to save the enourmous amount of money they would have to spend on a professional to think ot things like this.
RB26=2.6L
VQ30=3.0L
VQ35=3.5L
stop the drinking
most likely the engine series is picked at random...
But here's a cool chart..
http://www.freshalloy.com/site/featu...me_codes.shtml
But here's a cool chart..
http://www.freshalloy.com/site/featu...me_codes.shtml
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by D1NOnly34
I think they just have all 26 letters of the alphabet in a hat and pick two letters randomly to save the enourmous amount of money they would have to spend on a professional to think ot things like this.
I think they just have all 26 letters of the alphabet in a hat and pick two letters randomly to save the enourmous amount of money they would have to spend on a professional to think ot things like this.
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 9,159
Originally posted by max002
most likely the engine series is picked at random...
But here's a cool chart..
http://www.freshalloy.com/site/featu...me_codes.shtml
most likely the engine series is picked at random...
But here's a cool chart..
http://www.freshalloy.com/site/featu...me_codes.shtml
