Nissan 3.5L VQ V6 (VQ35HR): years, specs & known problems
By CarWhere Research · Updated
The VQ35HR is the redesigned 3.5-liter VQ V6 that Nissan put in every 2007 350Z, rated at 306 hp and 268 lb-ft. Nissan says about 80% of its major parts are new versus the VQ35DE, with a taller ladder-frame block, a 7,500 rpm rev limit and 10.6:1 compression. HR stands for high revolution and high response.
Nissan announced the VQ35HR in August 2006 alongside a 2.5-liter VQ25HR, built at its Iwaki engine plant in Fukushima for the Japanese Skyline and the US Infiniti G35. The letters HR, Nissan says, stand for high revolution and high response. The engine reached Nissan showrooms in the 2007 350Z, where it replaced the VQ35DE in every coupe and roadster.
Nissan describes the changes as a near-redesign: roughly 80% of major parts (other than bolts, O-rings and clips) are new. The block gains ladder-frame construction and is 8.4 mm taller to reduce piston side force, the engine sits 15 mm lower, crank journals and pins are larger, and compression rises from 10.3:1 to 10.6:1. Variable exhaust cam timing (eCVTCS), asymmetric piston skirts, twin knock sensors and a twin ram-air intake complete the list. In the 350Z it makes 306 hp at 6,800 rpm and 268 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm through the 2009 Roadster, after which the 370Z moved to a 3.7-liter engine.
3.5L VQ V6 (VQ35HR) at a glance
| Engine | Model years | Fuel | Peak hp | Peak torque (lb-ft) | Documented problems | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2009 Nissan 350Z (306 hp) | 2007–2009 | Gasoline | 306 | 268 | 0 | 0 |
| Infiniti G35 sedan (2007 redesign) | 2007–2008 | Gasoline | — | — | 0 | 0 |
CarWhere lists 0 documented problems and 0 NHTSA recalls for the 3.5L VQ V6 (VQ35HR), each with a source. Part of the VQ 3.5L V6 engines (VQ35DE, VQ35HR) family.
2007–2009 Nissan 350Z (306 hp)
Standard in every 2007–2008 350Z Coupe and Roadster, including the 2007 NISMO 350Z, and in the 2009 350Z Roadster. Rated at 306 hp and 268 lb-ft.
2007–2009 Nissan 350Z (306 hp) specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine code | VQ35HR[4] |
| Layout | 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6[4] |
| Redesigned parts vs VQ35DE | About 80% of major parts (except bolts, O-rings and clips)[1] |
| Compression ratio | 10.6:1 (up from 10.3:1)[1] |
| Rev limit | 7,500 rpm[4] |
| Block | Ladder-frame construction; block height up 8.4 mm; engine center lowered 15 mm[1] |
| Valve timing | eCVTCS electromagnetic variable exhaust cam timing[4] |
| Other changes | Larger crank journals and pins, asymmetric piston skirts, twin knock sensors, Iridium-tipped plugs, small-pitch silent cam chain[4] |
| Intake | Symmetric twin ram-air intake, worth up to 3 hp at speed[1] |
| Torque spread | More than 90% of peak torque between 2,000 and 7,000 rpm[1] |
| 2009 EPA listings | 350Z Roadster alongside the new 370Z[5] |
| Successor in the Z | EPA lists only the 370Z and 370Z Roadster for 2010[6] |
2007–2009 Nissan 350Z (306 hp) horsepower and torque by year
| Model years | Application | Horsepower (hp) | Torque (lb-ft) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 350Z Coupe and Roadster306 hp at 6,800 rpm, 268 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm (SAE J1349 JUN1995) | 306 | 268 | [1] |
| 2008 | 350Z Coupe and Roadster | 306 | 268 | [2] |
| 2009 | 350Z Roadster | 306 | 268 | [3] |
"—" means we could not confirm the figure from a primary source.
Which vehicles have the 2007–2009 Nissan 350Z (306 hp)?
| Model | Model years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan 350Z Coupe and Roadster | 2007–2008 | |
| NISMO 350Z | 2007–2008 | Coupe only, 6-speed manual |
| Nissan 350Z Roadster | 2009 | EPA lists the 2009 350Z Roadster alongside the new 370Z coupe |
Infiniti G35 sedan (2007 redesign)
Nissan's global newsroom says the VQ35HR was developed for the new Skyline, sold in the US as the Infiniti G35, and later describes it as the G35 sedan's engine.
Infiniti G35 sedan (2007 redesign) specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Plant | Nissan Iwaki engine plant, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan[7] |
| Meaning of HR | High revolution and high response[7] |
| Fuel efficiency claim | 10% better than vehicles with the existing VQ engine (Nissan)[7] |
| Successor | VQ37VHR 3.7L with VVEL, first used in the 2008 G37 Coupe; Nissan says about 35% of its parts are new and unique versus the G35 sedan's VQ35HR[8] |
| EPA listing, 2007 G35 | 3.5 L V6 with a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual[9] |
Which vehicles have the Infiniti G35 sedan (2007 redesign)?
| Model | Model years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Infiniti G35 sedan | 2007–2008 | Infiniti's US horsepower rating is not included here |
Related Nissan research
Confirm a car really has the 3.5L VQ V6 (VQ35HR).
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Frequently asked questions
What does HR mean in VQ35HR?
Nissan says HR stands for "high revolution" and "high response." The engine revs to 7,500 rpm, compared with 7,000 rpm for manual-transmission VQ35DE 350Zs.
Which 350Z years have the VQ35HR?
Every 2007 and 2008 350Z Coupe and Roadster, including the NISMO 350Z, plus the 2009 350Z Roadster. The 2003–2006 350Z used the VQ35DE, and the 2009 coupe was replaced by the 370Z.
How much horsepower does the VQ35HR have?
In the 350Z, Nissan rates it at 306 hp at 6,800 rpm and 268 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm, with more than 90% of peak torque available from 2,000 to 7,000 rpm.
How is the VQ35HR different from the VQ35DE?
Nissan says about 80% of major parts were redesigned. The block is taller with a ladder frame, the engine sits 15 mm lower, compression rises from 10.3:1 to 10.6:1, and variable exhaust cam timing, twin knock sensors and a twin ram-air intake are added.
Is the VQ35HR in the Infiniti G35?
Yes, in the redesigned G35 sedan. Nissan announced the VQ35HR in 2006 for the new Skyline, sold in the US as the Infiniti G35, and later described the VQ35HR as the G35 sedan's engine.
Sources
Ratings are Nissan-published figures as cited; descriptions are CarWhere’s own summaries of the sources below. Repair costs appear only where a source states them and vary by shop and region.
- 2007 Nissan Z Receives 306 Horsepower Next-Generation 3.5-liter V6, Other Refinements — Nissan USA Newsroom (usa.nissannews.com)
- 2008 Nissan 350Z Press Kit — Nissan USA Newsroom (usa.nissannews.com)
- 2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Press Kit — Nissan USA Newsroom (usa.nissannews.com)
- 2007 Nissan 350Z Coupe and Roadster Press Kit — Nissan USA Newsroom (usa.nissannews.com)
- 2009 Nissan model list (350Z Roadster and 370Z) — U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 2010 Nissan model list (370Z only) — U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- Nissan Develops New-Generation V6 Engines (Aug 22, 2006) — Nissan Global Newsroom (global.nissannews.com)
- New Nissan V6 Named One of the 10 Best Engines (Dec 12, 2007) — Nissan Global Newsroom (global.nissannews.com)
- 2007 Infiniti G35: engine and transmission options — U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
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Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Nissan North America, Inc. or Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.. Nissan and the model names are trademarks of their owners.