Infiniti has just announced that it will be showing an updated version of its Q50 sedan at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. While that news may not seem that interesting in the grand scheme of things, what is worth noting is that starting next year, the Q50 will be powered by all-new engines that all feature turbochargers. The base car will be a 2.0-liter turbo, using an engine borrowed from Mercedes. This motor is built at a joint plant between the two companies, and we knew this engine was coming for a long time.
The exciting engine is the new 3.0-liter V6.
The new motor carries the name VR30DETT, and it will produce as much as 400 horsepower for Infiniti’s luxury sedan. If you are a Nissan fan and think that VR30DETT designation looks familiar, it should. The VR line of engines is not new, it started with the VR38 engine that is found in the current GT-R. SO yea, while the GT-R powered Q50 Eau Rouge may be dead, at least we are still getting a car with an engine that shares its roots with the mill in the might Godzilla.
Along with the 400 horsepower car, Nissan will sell a de-tuned 300 horsepower version of the same motor for the mainstream Q50. For some reason, Nissan will also continue to offer the hybrid version that uses the old 3.5-liter V6 engine.
The new engine in the Q50 is an important milestone as it is the first clang of the deathbell for Nissan’s long used and loved VQ family of engines. It also means that Nissan may offer this new turbocharged motor in the next iteration of the Z. Good things, indeed.
