Everybody was talking about the article, now see it for yourself.
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=05296733

 

Thanks for the link medicsonic, I think those side sills give the car more personality. Hey where do they sell Autoweek, I couldnt find that magazine anywhere in Dallas?

 

"Some engine features carry over from the 3.0-liter V6, like the use of micro-finished camshaft and crankshaft surfaces. But others are new, like continuously variable valve timing, drive-by- wire throttle and even a variable muffler to better manage back-pressure and give the engine an appropriately meaty exhaust note. The new 3.5 also has digital knock control, one coil per spark plug and equal-length exhaust headers."


I'm bothered by that paragraph. For one, the VQ30DE-k always had equal-length exhaust headers. Check in the brochure for the 2000 Maxima. Another thing was that the VQ30DE-k also had a variable muffler similar to the Skyline. Other than that, the article rocks!

I also have questions for HP and TQ ratings for both the Maxima and the Altima. The Altima has dual exhaust, which means it is freer breathing and is better at producing HP. But at the same time, it produces the same TQ as the Max? The max SHOULD have more TQ since is has a single exhaust with the variable capacity feature to control backpressure. Shouldn't it? I'm now starting to think the 260HP is just a marketing scam.

 

I don't think its a marketing scam. The altima is just a single exhaust with 2 mufflers. Not really free breathing considering before the 2 mufflers it has to go through some kind of spliter.

The 260hp is NOT a marketing scheme. Being that the 3.5L has variable cam timing(continously) they have GREAT flexability in tuning it. Look at all the combo's they have with this engine.

Altima 240hp/246lb-ft
Maxima 260hp/246lb-ft
Pathfinder 240hp/268lb-ft
Pathfinder 5sp 250hp/250ish lb-ft

Its all in the ecu tuning with this vq. Now...we must figure out how they have 260hp in the max and 268lb-ft in the pathfiner. That would some fast azz max!

 

doh! and i just finished scanning the damn thing...hehe...i guess i will have to crop the pics out then because the article has a ton of detailed pics of the interior etc.