Capitone

iTrader: (1)

Neat tid bit of information I wanted to share, courtesy of a link posted by GTRBlkMax97. I knew that our engine won awards, but I didn't know it was THAT MANY!!!


The Daily Auto Insider
Ward's 10 Best Engines List For 2001
January 5, 2001
Page 1 of 1

New-age automotive drivetrains are here, and the seventh annual Ward's 10 Best Engines list honors one of the first of a coming breed. The Toyota Motor gasoline/electric hybrid "system" is one of Ward's 10 Best Engines for 2001, to be awarded during a ceremony at the North American International Auto Show at 1 p.m. on January 11.

Automotive engine developers are banking on hybrid powertrains for the next significant improvement in energy efficiency for the automotive sector, as they combine the best attributes of the familiar internal combustion engines with the energy enhancements possible with sophisticated electric motors and batteries. Although many automakers are just a few years away from releasing hybrid-powered vehicles to the public, Toyota is one of the first to release a hybrid-powered vehicle, the Prius, into the showroom. The Toyota hybrid-engine "system" is one of four new winners of the Ward's 10 Best Engines award.
The winners are:


Engine and (tested vehicle)
Audi 1.8L turbocharged DOHC I-5 (A4 1.8T)
Audi 2.7L Twin-turbo DOHC V-6 (Allroad)
BMW 3L DOHC I-6 (530i)
DaimlerChrysler Mercedes 3.2L SOHC V-6 (C320)
Ford Motor 5.4L Triton SOHC V-8/5.4L supercharged (F-Series)
General Motors 6.6L Duramax OHV V-8 (GMC Sierra HD)
Honda Motor 2L DOHC I-4 (S2000)
Nissan Motor "VQ" 3L DOHC V-6 (Maxima)
Porsche 2.7L DOHC H-6 (Boxster)
Toyota Motor 1.5L DOHC I-4 Hybrid (Prius)

Six of 2001's 10 Best Engines are repeat winners from last year - only one of those, however, the Nissan "VQ" 3L V-6, has won seven consecutive 10 Best awards, one each year since its inception in 1995. The Audi 2.7L V-6, DaimlerChrysler 3.2L V-6, Ford 5.4L Triton V-8, and Honda 2L I-4 all enjoy multi-year winner status on the 10 Best list.

SOURCE Ward's Communications

deezo

iTrader: (3)

I did read this report and it made me feel good. It also makes me think of why people buy other cars. I did my homework before buying mine. I am 6'5" and didn't want a SUV and I wanted something that was quick and got good gas mileage.
Then I read the reviews in, I think, Road and Track of how all of the test drivers would fight over who would get the keys first.
All Max owners should be proud to own this car. This car can run with the best of them.

MAX99SE

Do you also know that the Maxima is still one of the fewer cars made in Japan, not assembled in the US or Mexico etc..... atleast upto the 4th Gen, it still was !

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

The VQ is okay. A good engine that has been built well. Nothing earth shattering. There are plenty of engines that are better IMHO.

MaxedOut97SE

The VQ is okay?

"Revs like no other engine this side of a V8 Ferrari." (Road and Track)

"Taking the VQ to its 6600 RPM redline is one of the world's greatest automotive pleasures.."
(Ward's Auto World)

"Is this the best V6 in the world or what?"
(Automobile)

"Simply the best V6"
(Autoweek)

Get the idea? I can honestly say I have never seen as much praise focused on one certain engine as much as I have on the VQ. It isn't merely "okay", it is simply outstanding.

mAdD MAX

Well the 333hp in the M3's I6 is also an amazing engine.

the VQ is a GREAT engine that is in a relatively in-expensive car.

MaxedOut97SE

Um...yeah!! You're not telling me anything I don't already know. Just to let you know the old (240hp) M3 engine was the only other engine on the 10 best engine list for 6 consecutive years besides the VQ. Now the VQ is going on 7 though. Just goes to illustrate my point that the Maxima's engine is more than simply "okay".

Capitone

iTrader: (1)

The VQ engine kicks A**!!

deezo

iTrader: (3)

I think people shouldn't compare this engine to a v8. For a v6, I am still amazed at the take of from 20 to 70mph when entering the freeway. Anyone ever drove v6's of the 80's fromother companies like GM? They were terrible.

jiaxima96

I almost bought Camry LE V6 before my last minute change to Maxima GXE. Was driving noisy (engin noise) Altima. Wanted to have a very quiet car. I found Camry is a little quieter than Maxima. However after long and very careful comparison between the two, I didn't feel confortable at all to get Camry just for such a little more quietness and lose lots of good things about Maxima (too many to list here, I did the list on my white board, about 20 items).

For particular, I enjoy hearing the engine singing at strong acceleration. I'd call it a confident singing, meaning very serious business. The seat really pushes my back.