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Nissan introduced the Maxima as a compact car in 1976. It was originally available in the U.S. as the Datsun 810. In 1989, the Maxima evolved into a mid-size car and then into its modern full-size body in 2004. Although we don’t normally associate the Maxima and the Z, their roots begin in the same place with the same engine. Nissan sold the Datsun 810 from 1976-1980 in three body styles: a two-door coupé, a four-door sedan, and a four-door station wagon. In the U.S., all three styles had the same Nissan Maxima engine under the hood, the same Nissan Maxima engine found in the Datsun 240Z, a 2.4-liter SOHC L-Series straight-6. The Datsun 240Z was Nissan’s first generation of the Z series that would become legendary. Nissan manufactured this generation from 1969-1978 under the names 240Z, 260Z, 280Z, and the Fairlady Z. The Nissan Maxima engine found in the 260Z and 280Z were a 2.6-liter and a 2.8-liter L-Series respectively. In 1979, the Nissan 280Z evolved into the Nissan 280ZX and the second generation of the Z cars began. Nissan manufactured it from 1979-1983. In the final years of the 280ZX, the Nissan Maxima engine offered with the car was a 2.8-liter available as a turbo or naturally aspirated. Introduced in 1983, the Nissan 300ZX Z31 was both the successor to the 280ZX and the beginning of the Z series’ third generation. Nissan launched the 300ZX Z32 in 1989 marking the beginning of the line’s fourth generation and continued manufacturing it until 2000. However, in the U.S., Nissan ceased production of the vehicle in 1996. This is despite it being one of the most recognized and rewarded sports vehicles sold in the U.S. at the time. Even at the moment of its departure, Car & Driver magazine included it as part of their Ten Best list. After a six-year hiatus, the Z car finally returned to America and did so vigorously. The Nissan 350Z engine included with this two-seater in 2003 was a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6. This Nissan 350Z engine generated 287 horsepower at 6,200 rpm. This was disappointing to some fans since this was the same V6 used as the Nissan Maxima engine and in the Altima as well. However, what did have fans of the Z excited was the aggressive pricing and the centerline location of the engine that coupled with the 350Z’s long wheelbase provided amazing handling. Then in 2004, Nissan celebrated the 300ZX when it launched the 350Z Roadster. The Nissan 350Z engine under that hood was primarily the same but sport-tuned for a small bump in horsepower. In 2006, Nissan introduced a Grand Touring trim, which included a premium interior and an improved Nissan 350Z engine. This engine paired with a manual transmission provided 300 horsepower. In 2007, Nissan made the HR or High-Revving version of the VQ35 available as an option. This Nissan 350Z engine rated at 306 horsepower and boasted an impressive 7,500-rpm redline. Nissan introduced the sixth and current generation of the Z when they launched the 370Z in 2009. Under the hood, Nissan included a chest-thumping 3.7-liter V6 that generated a potent 332 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. About: However, what really sets the 370Z apart from the Nissan 350Z engine is the one-hundred pounds of weight it shed. This combination finally puts to bed the argument that the 300ZX Twin Turbo was the best performing Z of all time. It is clearly no longer the case.
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