The
VK engine is a V8 piston engine from Nissan. It is an aluminum DOHC 4-valve design.
The VK56 engine was originally based on Nissan's
VQThe VQ is a V6 piston engine produced by Nissan with displacements varying from 2.0 L to 4.0 L. It is an aluminum block DOHC 4-valve design with aluminum heads. It is fitted with Nissan's EGI/ECCS sequential multi-point fuel injection system...
V6 rather than the
VHThe VH series consists of 4.1 and 4.5 liter engines built from 1989-2001 by the Nissan Motor Corporation. The design consists of a 90 degree V8 with an aluminum cylinder block that features a closed upper deck and a deep skirt. The cylinder heads are also aluminum with a DOHC 4-valve design and...
V8 used in previous
Q45The Infiniti Q45 was a full-size luxury car sold by Nissan's Infiniti marque from 1990 until 2006. It is a rear wheel drive, four-door sedan powered by a V8 engine. Early generations were based on the automaker's Japanese-market flagship sedan, the Nissan President, while models produced after 1997...
/
CimaThe Nissan Cima is a large luxury sedan produced by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. for the Japanese market. The car's name is derived from Spanish for "summit". The hood ornament uses an image of an acanthus leaf. The acanthus leaf was commonly used by classical Greeks to make a wreath for use as a...
models. Changes include: a variable polymer intake manifold, newly designed heads, and a larger drive by wire throttle chamber. The intake manifold directs air through different paths at different engine speeds to boost low-end torque or unleash high-end horsepower.
VK45DE
The 4.5 L (4494 cc)
VK45DE was introduced in 2002 and is built in
Yokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
,
JapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Bore is 93 mm (3.7 in) and stroke is 82.7 mm (3.3 in). Output is 340 hp (254 kW) at 6400 rpm with 333 ft·lbf (451 Nm) of torque at 4000 rpm. Redline is at 6600 rpm. It has an aluminum engine block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. It uses
SFIFuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
, has 4 valves per cylinder with
VVTIn internal combustion engines, variable valve timing , also known as Variable valve actuation , is a generalized term used to describe any mechanism or method that can alter the shape or timing of a valve lift event within an internal combustion engine...
and features forged steel connecting rods, 4 one-piece cast camshafts, and an unusual variable-flow induction system optimizes airflow for low- and high-speed operation and low-friction molybdenum-coated pistons and microfinished crankshaft.
Motorsport
A flat-plane crankshaft version of the VK45DE is used by Nismo for Super GT races with the
Nissan GT-RThe Nissan GT-R is a sports car produced by Nissan released in Japan on December 6, 2007, the United States on July 4, 2008, and the rest of the world in March 2009.-History:...
instead of using the GT-R's
VR38DETTThe VR engine is a 3.8 L V6 piston engine from Nissan. The engine is the product of further development of the widely successful VQ engine series, in particular drawing experience from the JGTC racing engines as well as Nissan's VRH engines from vehicles such as the Nissan R390...
twin-turbo V6 engine. The VK45DE was previously used in Nissan's 350Z Super GT car, replacing the previous VQ30DETT used in that car in 2007. In race trim, the Super GT VK45DE produces 500 PS and 52 kgm of torque. The engine idles at around 3500 RPM and is restricted to the above specified power output. Without such restrictions, the engine is reputedly capable of producing nearly 800 PS. Nismo reasons that by using the engine, they eliminate turbo-lag, save weight and generally prefer the torque curve of the atmospheric V8.
This engine is used in the following vehicles:
- 2002–2006 Infiniti Q45
The Infiniti Q45 was a full-size luxury car sold by Nissan's Infiniti marque from 1990 until 2006. It is a rear wheel drive, four-door sedan powered by a V8 engine. Early generations were based on the automaker's Japanese-market flagship sedan, the Nissan President, while models produced after 1997...
, 340 hp
- 2003–2008 Infiniti FX45, 315 hp and 329 ft·lbf (446.1 N·m)
- 2003–2004 Infiniti M45, 340 hp and 333 ft·lbf (451.5 N·m)
- 2006–2010 Infiniti M45, 325 hp and 340 ft·lbf (461 N·m)
- 2004–2010 Nissan Fuga
The Fuga is a full-size sedan, rear wheel drive with optional all wheel drive, produced by Nissan of Japan since October 2004 and now in its second generation. It is built on a wider, stretched wheelbase version of the Nissan FM platform. After the Nissan Cima and Nissan President were...
450 GT, 333 hp and 340 ft·lbf (461 N·m)
- 2003–2010 Nissan President 280 bhp and 333 ft·lbf (451.5 N·m)
- 2007 Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
Nissan 350ZThe Nissan 350Z is a two seat sports car that was manufactured by Nissan from 2002 to 2009 and marks the fifth generation of Nissan's Z-car line. The 350Z entered production in late 2002 and was sold and marketed as a 2003 model. The first year there was only a coupe, as the roadster did not debut...
, 490 hp and 380 ft·lbf (515.2 N·m)
- 2008 Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
Nissan GT-RThe Nissan GT-R is a sports car produced by Nissan released in Japan on December 6, 2007, the United States on July 4, 2008, and the rest of the world in March 2009.-History:...
, 490 hp and 380 ft·lbf (515.2 N·m)
- 2011 Various LMP2
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
racing cars 450 hp 430 ft·lbf (583 N·m)
VK45DD
The VK45DD is the same as the VK45DE but adds an direct injection fuel system. This was Nissans first V8 with direct injection. It produces (officially) 280 PS @6000 rpm and 451 N·m (332.6 ft·lbf) @3600 rpm. But it has unofficially over 300 PS. It has a compression ratio of 11.0.
It was used in the following:
VK50VE
The VK50VE is a 5.0 L V8 engine with 390 hp @6500 rpm and 500 N.m @4400 rpm and redline is at 6800 rpm. Bore x stroke (mm) are 95.5 x 87.7 and compression ratio is 10.9:1. It has Nissans VVEL technology.
Applications:
- 2009-present Infiniti FX
The Infiniti FX is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by the Nissan-owned Infiniti luxury vehicle brand since the 2003 model year. The FX replaced the QX4 as Infiniti's mid-size luxury-type SUV, although the QX4 was smaller than the FX. It was released at the same time as its competitors,...
50
http://nissan.iconicweb.com/assets/specs/2009_FX_Specs_NNA_Final.pdf
VK56DE
The
VK56DE is a 5.6 L (5552 cc) version built in Decherd, TN. Bore is 98 mm (3.9 in) and stroke is 92 mm (3.6 in). Output is 317 hp - 320 hp (227 kW) at 4900 rpm with 385 to 393 ft·lbf (522-533 Nm) of torque at 3600 rpm. It has aluminum-alloy block and heads and low-friction molybdenum-coated pistons. The valvetrain is a dual overhead cam (DOHC) design with a continuously variable valve timing control system (CVTCS) on the intake valves. It also has 4 valves per cylinder with micro-finished camshafts and ductile iron cylinder liners for increased durability.
Motorsport
NismoNismo is the motorsports and performance division of Nissan Motor Company. Formed in 1984 as a result of a merger of two motorsport departments, Nismo cars have participated in JSPC, Formula Nippon, JTCC, 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona...
also uses the VK56DE for FIA GT1 racing. In race trim, it produces 600 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.
Applications:
- 2004–present Nissan Armada
The Nissan Armada is Nissan's full-size SUV. It shares its body-on-frame F-Alpha platform with the Nissan Titan pickup truck, Nissan Xterra SUV, Nissan Frontier pickup truck, and Nissan Pathfinder SUV. An upscale version of the Armada was sold as the Infiniti QX56 from 2004 to 2010, when it...
, 317 hp and 385 ft.lbf
- 2004–present Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan introduced in 2004, is a full-size pickup truck produced for the North American market by Nissan. The truck shares the stretched Nissan F-Alpha platform with the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56 SUVs, and is manufactured in Canton, Mississippi, United States.-Market and sales:The...
, 317 hp and 385 ft.lbf
- 2004–2010 Infiniti QX56, 320 hp and 393 ft.lbf
- 2008–present Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder is a SUV manufactured by Nissan Motors since 1986, derived from Nissan's compact pickup truck platform. The Pathfinder is slotted in size between the Murano and Armada or Patrol, but in price between the Xterra and Murano...
, 310 hp and 388 ft.lbf
- 2009–present Nissan GT-R GT1, 600 hp and 479 ft.lbf
Notes:
-
- The Titan, Armada, and Pathfinder power figures are for regular 87 octane fuel. The 320 hp Infiniti QX56 is tuned more for premium (91+ octane) fuel.
- Some VK56DE powered vehicles are E85 capable.
VK56VD
The
VK56VD is a 5.6 L (5552 cc) 32-valve, DOHC, Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) aluminum-alloy V8 and features Nissan's advanced VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift System). The direct injection system provides better wide-open throttle performance and improved fuel economy and emissions performance by reducing engine knock, improving combustion stability and controlling injection more precisely. In the Infiniti M56, it is rated at 420 hp and 417 ft·lbf (565.4 N·m) of torque.
Applications:
- 2010–present Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951. In Japan since 1980, it has been known as the Nissan Safari. The Patrol is available in Australasia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and...
, 400 hp and 413 ft·lbf (560 N·m)
- 2011–present Infiniti QX
The Infiniti QX is a luxury SUV built by Nissan and originally sold in North America. The first generation received its naming inspiration from the recognized four wheel drive terminology "4×4" with Infiniti adding a "Q" at the beginning to suggest it was a luxurious "4×4", borrowed from the Q45...
, 400 hp and 413 ft·lbf (560 N·m)
- 2011–present Infiniti M56, 420 hp and 417 ft·lbf (565.4 N·m)
See also
- List of Nissan engines
- Infiniti
is the luxury division of automaker Nissan. Infiniti officially started selling vehicles on November 8, 1989 in North America. Marketing operations have since grown to include the Middle East, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, China, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Infiniti began sales in additional...