Wards article written in 2000 Re: LX-5

[IRONDOG442]

http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_general_motors_corp_3/

 

 

3.5L Twin Cam V-6 It seemed like we'd been hearing about the "Shortstar" forever. Rumors about General Motors Corp.'s modular DOHC V-6 derived from the famous Northstar 4.6L and Aurora 4L "Premium V" V-8s had powertrain watchers salivating at the prospect.

 

Last year's launch of the Shortstar - officially dubbed 3.5L Twin Cam - didn't disappoint. It instantly earned a position as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines for 1999, in its first year of eligibility.

 

 

The 3.5L Twin Cam V-6 stands above the mass of 3L V-6s in the market largely by virtue of another half-liter of displacement. GM engineers eschewed the now-common add-on gadgets like variable valve timing in favor of good old cubic inches - and with those cubes comes the virtue of long stroke.

 

Extending the range of the pistons in their bores produces fabulous torque, particularly in the middle-rpm ranges, making the 3.5L Twin Cam a most satisfying implement for squirting through city traffic and breaking out to beat that next ill-timed traffic light.

 

More stimulating, though, is the 3.5L Twin Cam's punch on the freeways and interstates. It lopes along at 75 mph (121 km/h), just below its real light-off rpm; further throttle provocation then summons a torque burst of profound influence - our 3.5L Twin Cam-motivated '01 Aurora test car displayed 75 mph-to-95 mph acceleration of heroic stature. And sustaining triple-digit speeds was the proverbial "walk in the park."

 

Yes. That long stroke yields the sensation of power reserves deeper than those of even the best 3L V-6s. It's a feeling of a uniquely "American" engine - the reassurance of generous displacement.

 

But there's also the unbreakable feel so prevalent in the Northstar and Aurora V-8s. The 3.5L Twin Cam exudes the sounds of fine inner workings, of tight tolerances and components dense where they need to be and finely optimized where they don't. The torque is intoxicating, but it's the typical GM fascination with detail refinement that delights.

 

The company's engineers pursued friction reduction with religious zeal. They specified practically everything you would if you were designing your own V-6: powder metal connecting rods, a forged crank, roller-finger cam followers. A chain cam drive that never needs adjustment or replacement. And the amazing and now-legendary "limp home" feature that allows this all-aluminum engine to operate without any coolant without fear of meltdown.

 

In short, the 3.5L Twin Cam has been developed to the high standard we know GM Powertrain sets when it gets serious about an all-new anything. It doubtless is not a cheap engine - in fact, to watch one built component-by-component, it looks positively lavish - yet now comes standard in the modestly priced Intrigue and will be the base engine for the '01 Aurora starting this spring.

 

Probably nowhere else can you buy so much engine excellence at such reasonable cost.

 

[IRONDOG442]

SKULCHED !!!

[White93z34]

I can agree to that. the 3.5 is a very fun engine. If I ever own a second gen, it will undoubtedly be a 3.5 car.

[IRONDOG442]

As you all know I worship it !

[AWeb80]

I like it so far.

[IRONDOG442]

If any of you like going 65 mph to 132 mph there isn't a better car to do it in. An asshole in a 4.6 liter GT Mustang was tailgating me and Marie in her 99' GLS in SC once and I floored it until it hit the limiter at 132 and I looked in the rear view and the douchebag in the Mustang was about 1/4 mile behind me. BTW he was trying to keep up too! I would challenge ANY car on the road from a 65 mph+ dig in a 3.29 FDR Intrigue!

[AWeb80]

ZR1>Intrigue

[IRONDOG442]

who has a ZR1 ?

 

Lets do it !

 

 

65+ its a beast I'm tellin' you fuckers!

 

 

I used to drive an Olds 455 + .060 over which laid down about 600 hp to the ground in a 3,600 pound 67' a-body and I like my Intrigues odds on a 65mph + race !!! Now the 2004 R1 I used to roll with its powerband past 9k rpms nothing could top that !

[Night Fury]

I want one.

[IRONDOG442]

Just go test drive one and beat it like a rented KIA!

[Night Fury]

2002 Saturn SC2 midnight blue, dark tinted windows, gloss black roof, 3.5 under the hood mated to an F40?

[IRONDOG442]

Not the same 3.5 sadly, the new 3.5 is the new star which is a rehashed 60 degree v-6 (read as turd)

[Night Fury]

Not the same 3.5 sadly, the new 3.5 is the new star which is a rehashed 60 degree v-6 (read as turd)

 

I was referring to swapping in the good 3.5

[IRONDOG442]

You sir, are a genius !

[Night Fury]

Wouldn't it be tight?

 

This car minus ghey gfx and wheels, plus all my additions!

 

[IRONDOG442]

You know this!!

[5speedz34]

Not the same 3.5 sadly, the new 3.5 is the new star which is a rehashed 60 degree v-6 (read as turd)

 

You're talking about the L-series. The SC is the coupe. I think the V6 that the L-Series gets is a 3.0 54* degree or something really off like that.

[GOT2B GM]

hmm I have yet to drive a LX-5 car

[Addicted to eaton]

Just go test drive one and beat it like a rented KIA!

 

LOL! If only you knew

[Andrew]

hmm I have yet to drive a LX-5 car

ditto.

[Addicted to eaton]

hmm I have yet to drive a LX-5 car

ditto.

x2

[jake91]

x3

[IRONDOG442]

Then you guys need to get in the know !

[Addicted to eaton]

I have never had the chance!

[GP1138]

I would be interested to see if there was a similar article about the LQ1.