Renault and Nissan have officially announced the launch of a new V6 diesel engine that will see duty in U.S. and European models. The new 3.0L diesel powerplant is the result of a €180 million joint venture between the two automakers.
The 235 horsepower mill will be used to power Renault’s Laguna range, but will see a much wider application under the Nissan brand. In fact, Nissan is expected to make up about 75 percent of the engine’s use.
The new clean diesel is seen as a crucial element in Nissan’s quest to make its Infiniti brand a serious contender in the European market – a region where a very high number of luxury vehicles are equipped with diesel mills. “Having this new V6 diesel engine is a key part of the Infiniti launch in Europe,” Malo Le Masson, Nissan’s European product strategy and advance planning manager, told Automotive News.
The new engine will see limited production in 2009, but widespread use is expected to begin in 2010.
Nissan also confirmed the U.S.-spec Maxima sedan is earmarked for the diesel powerplant, but failed to give a launch date. However, the diesel-powered Maxima is expected to hit U.S. showrooms sometime in 2010.
01/06, 11:46 AM
posted by:
Borat
Interesting, Laguna is FWD and Infinity models are RWD; the same mill will power both? Crafty engineering. We are not going to see this engine anytime soon (in cars), until gas prices jump over $3/gallon. This blessed event will occur only after economy recovers and demand grows exponentially.
01/06, 11:50 AM
posted by:
Madcapp
Excellent…sign me up for a car that consumes fuel that costs $1 more per gallon than gas. This whole 2nd push for diesels in the superpower remindes me of when laser discs were reintroduced in the late 80’s…only to fail a second time.
01/06, 12:23 PM
posted by:
Struggle
I wonder if this thing can pull my boat.
01/06, 12:27 PM
posted by:
kansei
@Borat –the Nissan 3.5 VQ series (previously 3.0, and now 3.7 in the 370z and G37) is in the Altima, the Maxima –both FWD, plus the 350Z, the G35, the M35, etc (all RWD). It’s transverse mounted in the FWD cars even. All they had to do was make a RWD transmission that could bolt up and design the engine mounts on the 350Z (I believe the first RWD car with a VQ unless one of the trucks used it) to be compatible and voila.
Oh and they have completely different intake manifolds and exhaust manifolds on the FWD vs RWD of course.
@Struggle –a 235hp diesel, probably has 8 million foot pounds of torque at idle, so yes haha. Heck 150hp diesels in a midsize feel really powerful, I can’t wait to see what the torque curve looks like on this.
01/06, 1:35 PM
posted by:
BlazeAbraham09
Dang, a diesel with 235 HP…that must translate out to 400 lb-ft. of torque. Hahaha. If this is gonna be FWD, I’d like to see how they’re gonna combat the torque-steer.
Why doesn’t Nissan just switch the Maxima to RWD and throw in the diesel option? I understand that if the Maxima was RWD, it would interfere with G37 sales. But still…the current Maxima has enough torque-steer. I’d hate to see a FWD Maxima with 400 lb.-ft. of torque…ouch…
01/06, 1:46 PM
posted by:
A4
this is going to be a sweeeet car on the US shores, they should at least offer the Maxima with the Murano AWD system, if not RWD.
01/06, 1:54 PM
posted by:
Other Man
While it still looks good, BMW’s diesel that’s already been on the market puts out 265 hp and likely a fair amount more torque. Jaguar’s diesel has been updated to similarly high levels, and Mercedes’s next generation BlueTEC isn’t far off either.
I’m still excited nevertheless.
01/06, 6:27 PM
posted by:
DB9
Europe is right! Diesel is the way to go – minimum 25% mpg gain with increased durability as a bonus – though more expensive… GM’s plans in this regard are interesting…
Ecotec 1.9L (JTD) I4 CDTi DOHC Turbo Diesel Horsepower: 150 @ 4000 rpm Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm. Opel Astra
2.0L (LBX) I4 DI DOHC Turbo Diesel Horsepower: 160 @ 4000 rpm Torque: 258 lb.-ft. @ 1750 rpm. Insignia Sedan/Touring (Base & Base AWD).
2.0L (LBY) I4 DI DOHC Two-Stage Bi Turbo Diesel Horsepower: 190 @ 4000 rpm Torque: 295 lb.-ft. @ 1750 rpm. Insignia Sedan/Touring (GT & GT AWD).
2.9L (RA 630(VMM)) V6 DI DOHC Turbo Diesel Horsepower: 250 @ 4000 rpm Torque: 406 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm. Cadillac CTS & SRX,
Duramax 4500 (LMK) 4.5L V8 DOHC Turbo Diesel Horsepower: ~310 Torque: ~520 lb.-ft.*^ [*- Still in development] [^ - Developed for Truck & Car applications] release in approx 1yr
DB9