G37 leak - Caddy V12 back? - M3 Powerplant

G37

The G37 I mentioned a few posts down has broken embargo, And when it rains, it pours. Road and Track put their issue for next month online a little early, and with New York Auto Show 2 weeks away, showed everyone what the car looks like. And pretty much every other outlet released their pictures as well.

The G37 will have upgrade the old 3.5L V6 and use a 3.7L, increasing horsepower and torque to an estimated 330 and 270 ft lbs. respectively. Brakes are also said to be upgraded, decreasing stopping distance. The car is now weighing in at nearly 3,700 lbs, which is not light by any stretch given its proportions.

The problem I have with this car, and most of Nissan/Infinity really, is the uninspired styling. Look at the 350Z, look at the G35. The Murano, and the FX 45. The Pathfinder Armada, and the QX56. Take a look at the new Altima Coupe even. I have no problem with platform sharing, and Nissan has hardly any platforms, but the cheaper Nissans look every bit the same as their more expensive Infiniti counterparts. Perhaps with time they will grow apart in styling, but for now, not happening. Maybe the Twin Turbo G37 I mentioned will look alot different from Skyline. And I am sure they will both be really cheap. Now that's sarcasm!

V12

According to Automotive News, the on-again off-again V12 in development for Cadillac is back on-again. The very nice 3.6L V6 GM uses in the CTS, the Outlook/Acadia/Enclave, and other vehicles, is said to be fused together with another 3.6, making a 7.2L V-12. Said to produce somewhere around 600hp and 540 ft lbs. It is also currently said to be testing in the land down under at Holden, where GM is sending alot of its products and vehicles to test.

What might we see a V12 in from Cadillac? Let me recall 2 concepts for you.

2001 Cadillac Cien Concept. Mid-Engine, RWD.

2003 Cadillac Sixteen Concept. Front-Engine, RWD.

The first, the Cien, is an absolute beauty. I love that car to death. The Sixteen is a great example of what Cadillac was and what it hopes to become. Cadillac had a V16 decades ago, but because of technologica deficiencies it never came to fruition. But now that technology is no longer a hurdle, it was a car to showcase Cadillac's climb back to the forefront.

This new V12 will likely end up not in a Cien type car(like the Audi R8 we here love so much) but in a large front-engine car, something like the Sixteen concept, a huge Sedan most likely, something that can compete with the Mercedes S-class. A car like this will cost a huge amount, but GM is still the King of performance for the price. I can't imagine this Cadillac costing more than its Mercedes counterpart, and it should match it in every aspect from ride quality, acceleration, quality of materials, and overall presence.

M3 V8
What's that M3 concept? You want me inside?

The last item for today is the new V8 going into the new M3. With the Twin-turbo V6 in the 335i making 300hp(rated) and the previous M3 making around 340, this new M3 is going to be a big step upward in the power department. Taken from the M5/M6's 5.0L V10, the new V8 is 4.0L. Said to produce 420hp and 295ft lbs. of torque, this engine apparently loves to rev, having a redline somewhere above 8,000RPM.

We all love high horsepower engines, but a sub 300 torque rating is somewhat disappointing. I guess that's what you get when you go high feature.