The power plant which is found in several Nissan models in New Zealand is the only motor to win the accolade every year since Ward's Communications of the USA inaugurated "Ward's Ten Best Engines" in 1995.

Available world wide in a variety of capacity sizes and in several different models, the "VQ" V6 engine is renowned for its strong, free - revving performance and its bountiful supply of torque at low and mid-range engine revs.

Locally the VQ engine is available in the 350Z where it produces up to 221kWs. In the Maxima is has 170 kWs and a class leading 333 Nm of torque. Both models have 3.5 litre versions of the V6. The engine is also available in 4.0 litre quise in the awesome Navara ST-X and Pathfinder models.

Internationally it also powers the Altima and Infinity FX35 and QX4 in North America, the Skyline in Japan.

About 500,000 of the all aluminium VQ engines are produced annually at Nissan's Iwaki engine plant in Japan.