Popular Mechanics honors GM's 3.9L V6
General Motors' all-new 3.9L V6 has been honored with a Breakthrough Technology award by Popular Mechanics for its
innovative use of variable valve timing in an overhead valve engine. For ages GM has continually developed its line of
overhead valve engines and the addition of VVT is an industry first, adding a dose of sophistication to an old school
architecture. The powerplant develops a healthy 240 horsepower and can be had in the 2006 Impala, Monte Carlo, Malibu
SS, Malibu Maxx SS and Uplander; Pontiac G6 GTP and SV6; Buick Terraza; and Saturn Relay. And hey, if you're going to
be honored by a group of mechanics, it's better they be the popular kind, right?
Full press release after the jump…
Popular Mechanics Awards Gm 3.9 V-6 For Breakthrough Technology
POPULAR MECHANICS AWARDS GM 3.9 V-6 FOR BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY
New York - General Motors new 3.9-liter V-6 has been recognized for ground-breaking technology by the editors of
POPULAR MECHANICS in the publications first POPULAR MECHANICS Breakthrough Awards. The announcement was made today
at the American Museum of Natural History and will be featured in the October issue of POPULAR MECHANICS, on newsstands
nationwide October 11, 2005.
The POPULAR MECHANICS Breakthrough Awards recognize ten individuals and teams, including one winner of the
Breakthrough Leadership Award, that are helping to improve lives and expand possibilities in the realms of science,
technology and exploration. Additionally, POPULAR MECHANICS highlighted a separate group of ten consumer products that
represent milestones in design and engineering.
The 3.9 V-6 has been awarded for the innovative adaptation of variable valve timing, an industry first for overhead
valve engines.
General Motors keeps finding ways to advance overhead valve engines and the 3.9-liter V-6 used in the Impala reaches
new levels, said James Meigs, editor-in-chief, POPULAR MECHANICS. For their continued success and innovation, were
proud to recognize GM with a 2006 Breakthrough Award.
The 3.9 is part of an all-new family of advanced overhead valve, 60-degree V-6 engines. The engine is designed new
from the block up and in addition to variable valve timing, incorporates a host of advanced, premium features,
including a variable intake manifold, piston-cooling oil squirters, and an advanced 32-bit engine controller.
The breakthrough development of variable valve timing for the 3.9 demonstrates the continued relevance of the elegant
overhead valve engine design, said Dr. Gary Horvat, assistant chief engineer, V-6 engines. Were honored that the
editorial team at POPULAR MECHANICS recognize the significance of this technology.
The variable valve timing system incorporates a vane-type camshaft phaser that changes the angular orientation of the
camshaft, thereby adjusting the timing of the intake and exhaust valves to optimize performance and economy, and
helping lower emissions. Within its range of operation, it offers infinitely variable valve timing in relation to the
crankshaft. The cam phasing creates dual equal valve timing adjustments. In other words, the intake valves and
exhaust valves are varied at the same time and at the same rate.
The award-winning, 240-horsepower 3.9 V-6 is available in the 2006 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo, Malibu SS, Malibu
Maxx SS and Uplander; Pontiac G6 GTP and SV6; Buick Terraza; and Saturn Relay.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ccweems 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
240hp from 3.9L? MB and Nissan get 30hp more from 3.5L, and have been for years. Once again GM comes to the party late empty handed. It looks like all it takes to get an award from PM is several pages of advertising.
and this item is newsworthy to Autoblog for what?
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djSyndrome 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Actually, Nissan was the first example that came to my mind too - and their 3.5L gets up to ~60 hp more from 3.5L (G35 Coupe, 350Z) ;)
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APK 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
An how is their VVT an industry first? Honda has done it for years, hell my Ford does it. This is part of the reason I don't subscribe to PM anymore.
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Sean Flanagan 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Apparently, moving some solenoids and cams from the heads (where all other VVT systems are, since they're all OHC) to the block and adding pushrods (OHV) is a big breakthrough...
1&2, let's not leave out Honda, who have been making 50 hp more from 3.2 liters (and 36 more from 3.0 prior) in the NSX since 1990.
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Joseph Willemssen 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
"MB and Nissan get 30hp more from 3.5L, and have been for years."
Honda gets 240 HP from a 2 liter, four cylinder engine.
Though I doubt the whole point of this article is strictly about horsepower.
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Arnie 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
They did not say this was industry first for VVT and this had nothing to do with hp. Why not read the article before commenting on it?
This was about: "...innovative use of variable valve timing in an overhead valve engine."
That said, I can't figure out why this is newsworthy. This sounds like an excuse for PM to honor an American company for something - just anything!
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Rob 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Althought this new engine generates less power than Nissan engines, it provides more torque, it's quieter and better gas mileage because of it's OHV design, I could live with that! My malibu maxx 3.5 V6 runs 2000rpm @70mph and 30mpg (highway).
Variable timing is a nice addition to the venerable GM workhorses.
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Non-Bizarro Adam 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
APK, read the article. It is the first VVT for an OHV engine, negating one of the chief benefits of an OHC motor.
And Joe, yes the Honda S2000 gets 240 out of its 2.0, but it also has 80 lb-ft less torque and cost considerably more than the 3.9L. Could you imagine trying to move a four door sedan with that peaky a motor? You cannot compare the two engines, because they are completely different animals.
The more correct comparison is the Accord's 3.0 V6, which makes 244 hp and 211 lb-ft, and you can get one in an Accord for about the same money as the Malibu SS. I think that the two come to about the same result with vastly different routes, but are both pretty good engines. The Honda has more hp/L, the Chevy more torque and a much broader torque curve, with peak torque coming at a very low 2800 RPM, compared to the Accord at 5000. I can't wait to get a chance to drive a Malibu SS, and until then I'll hold my final judgment as to which is better.
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djSyndrome 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
You folks can get into a "my car is better than your car" argument all you want, but one thing to consider is the fact that GM has to put ridiculous amounts of money on the hood to move most of their bread-and-butter sedans off the lot (or into the hands of Hertz, et al.) Honda has no such problem.
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Adrian 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
The Accord engine may have a peak torque at 5000 but it doesn't mean it has a peaky torque curve. On the contrary, it's a relatively flat torque curve that happens to be a bit higher at that RPM. I haven't seen a dyno graph on the new GM engine, but you can almost be assured it will "run out of breath" as it revs higher. (As torque dros, hp stops gaining as fast.) Lots of torque off the line and a low rpm at cruising, but a bit labored when getting onto the freeway at full power.
The Accord will probably "Feel" slower than the new GM engine, though, as the flat torque curve results in lower hp at low rpm, but when putting your foot down to pass someone while you're already going 60mph, the accord would be faster.
Also, the accord engine is relatively unsophisticated. SOHC with two-mode VTEC only on the intake valves. No varaiable valve timing either. (i-VTEC)
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ludovic 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
POPULAR MECHANIC should be taught that there are other countries in the world than the US of A, including good old Germany.
Indeed, beyond borders of the United States, incredible sophistication has reched the automobile consumer: for instance, BMW's standard 3.0 litre delivers 258 bhp and has VANOS too. Toyota has had variable valve for ages.
We can already guess the next POPULAR MECHANIC award to Ford for their next generation of Mustang: FORD INTRODUCES FOUR WHEEL INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION IN THEIR 2009 MUSTANG!
Just two reminders:
- the current Mustang generation has a live rear axle, a design inherited from horse carts!
http://www.mustangheaven.com/2005mustang/drivingd.htm
- in 1937,the Citroen 2 CV pioneered the independent suspension
http://www.autoswalk.com/citroen2cv.html
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Paul 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
gm must be a big advertisor in popular mech. this push rod pos doesnt exactly break new ground. power is nothing special plus if quality control is anything like the disasterous 8.1 big block look for plenty of breakdowns. the 8.1 has all kind of issues, like coolant leaks in the heads and exhaust man, piston slap, oil burning prob, ign failures. plenty of power but what does it matter when its on the hook. gm makes the worst crap and i will be a happy guy when it fails and the rest of american industry along with it.
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Jason 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Umm, did the magazine forget about the 1995 BMW M3? That was a 3.0 liter straight-6 that pumped out 240HP. Why is this all of a sudden new? Perhaps they only considered American automakers (I'm thinkin' they had a nice payout by GM if they praised their engine)...
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cliff 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Toyota also does VVT on almost all of there cars 4cyl 6cyl and V8. the Camry had VVTi 3 years ago and is DOHC. I do not see the the brealthrough unless we are talking about GM moving forward
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Non-Bizarro Adam 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Sometimes I wonder if most of the people on this blog are even literate. It is the first use of VVT on OHV. Read the post first.
And Adrian, I never said that the Accord motor was peaky, I said the S2000 motor was peaky (just about as peaky as they come nowadays). And the Accord does have a flat torque curve when compared to other OHC motors, but I think it will be a little more peaked than the 3.9, if nothing else than just based on displacement. You can tell this by the 3000 RPM separation between peak HP and peak torque in the 3.9 (5800-2800) versus the considerably less 1250 RPM difference for the Accord (6250-5000). And these numbers also show that the peak hp coming only 450 RPM sooner, its not going to be "running out of breath" that much sooner than the Accord. Again, I am going to hold my final judgment until I actually get to drive the new SS, but I like what I see on the spec sheet.
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will 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
those that don't understand or appreciate the elegance of this technology need to check out the wiki for OHV and OHC engines first, it will be clear after that.
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pause 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Porsche 968
236hp from 3.0 4 cyl
225 ft-lb
And this was in 1992
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american_auto_industry 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I wonder how much GM brided popular mechanics to write that crap.
Wasn't there a scandal in the 60s where popular mechanics fudged a bunch of performance tests for some make of car?
totally shameless.
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Irate Old Man 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Once again, society proves it doesn't know **** about engineering, and only cares about "teh HP!"
READ THE ****ING BLOG PEOPLE!!
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BF 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Look, GM can't even catch a break on this blog when they do something right and get some positive media play.
The haters love to have it both ways.....Paul, that means you!!!
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