Nissan Engine Only Seven-Time Winner; Nissan's 3-Liter 'VQ' Engine Makes Ward's 'Ten Best Engines' List for 2001

3 January 2001
Nissan Engine Only Seven-Time Winner; Nissan's 3-Liter 'VQ' Engine Makes Ward's 'Ten Best Engines' List for 2001
    DETROIT, Jan. 3 Nissan's 3-liter "VQ" engine used in the
Nissan Maxima and Infiniti I30 has been named for the seventh year in a row to
Ward's Auto World's "Ten Best Engines of the Year" award list.  The V-6 engine
is the only engine in the world to receive the award every year the list has
been compiled.
    The engine is one of a family of V-6 powerplants produced at Nissan's
engine plant in Iwaki, Japan.  Also produced there are V-6 engines displacing
2.0, 2.5 and 3.5 liters.  The 3.5-liter "VQ" engine is used in the Nissan
Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 sport-utility vehicles.
    Reporters and editors from Ward's Auto World and Ward's Engine and Vehicle
Technology Update drove 27 cars last year, and considered a variety of
performance factors, including power, torque and special technical features in
coming to their decisions.
    "We've said it before and we'll say it again," according to an article in
the January 2001 edition of Ward's Auto World.  "There isn't a better V-6 in
automobiledom -- regardless of price.
    "The fact that the VQ is standard in two very affordable sedans, the
Nissan Maxima and the Infiniti I30, only seals the argument that the 3L VQ is
one of the world's finest engine designs," the article added.
    Ward's evaluators singled out the VQ engine's throttle response,
smoothness and the way engineers handled reciprocating mass issues in naming
it to the winner's list for the seventh consecutive year.
    "We are very honored to receive this prestigious award once again for this
fine engine," said Shigeo Ishida, president of Nissan Technical Center North
America, Inc.  "We truly appreciate the serious work that the staff at Ward's
puts into these awards, and we are looking forward to their thoughts on our
new engines in the future."
    In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling,
engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing,
distribution and manufacturing.  More information on Nissan in North America
and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at
http://www.nissandriven.com or contact the corporate media line at 310-771-5631.

    For further information please contact Fred Standish, Nissan Corporate
Communications, 248/488-4227.

    (Or visit the Nissan Online News Bureau at http://www.nissannews.com)