Quote:
Originally Posted by wilsonp
I think you totally misread his admittedly difficult to parse writing.
He is saying the GT-R is a supercar, and the 370Z as the top sportscar in the Nissan line-up is under powered.
And most people said the NSX was under powered for years, until one embarrassed them on a track (it was definitely under powered in the 2000's though).
It isn't about peak horsepower, it's about performance, and the 370Z was leading until the 2011 Mustang GT came out, and it is still pretty close, which the 350Z - 370Z update brought about.
I don't think a variable valve lift and timing throttle-less engine with a flat torque curve and 7500 RPM red line is out of date at all - add some direct injection and tuning, and it can beat the Mustang with just an engine and I/H/E mid-cycle facelift (though some more lightness would be nice).
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The VQ makes 100whp less than the mustang does. Now you are talking about modifying it--even if done at the factory.
The Coyote (Ford's 5.0) is ready to go for DI. It was built with DI in mind. The VQ would then be behind by an even larger margin.
As to the GT-R, yes, you nailed what I was saying. The GT-R is not in the same class as the 370Z and it's a Halo car. That is like talking about the ZR1 and the Camaro SS or the Ford GT and the Ford mustang in the same sentence. They may share a couple of components at their basest level, but they really shouldn't be discussed together or taken as a representation of the brand.
No, the concept of the VQ is not out of date. The implementation of it is, though. Nissan needs to scrap the engine, and keep the knowledge gained from it. Just like GM did with the LS1 and Ford did with the 4.6L 2 and 3V engines. Great ideas, but they have a lot of room to be improved upon and reached the peak of their limitations without a re-do.
As to the NSX. Yeah, if my stock 150K mile Trans Am stomped one, it was underpowered for the money. It might have gotten around my old '95 F-body, but the beating wouldn't have been significant for sure. The NSX is like a supermodel with a great personality and a picture perfect smile that doesn't know how to make a sandwich.