Saturday, January 8, 2022

Rise of the V-6

A strange thing happened in 2021: Maserati, Ferrari, and McLaren introduced new 3.0-liter V-6s. For its new MC20, Maserati created an engine called the Nettuno, a twin-turbo unit making 621 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. The new dual-injected, dual spark plug mill has a passive prechamber ignition system. This increases combustion speed by 30%. The Maserati Nettuno is a dry sump, dual-overhead cam V6 with variable valve timing, set at 90 degrees. It weighs in under 500 pounds and reaches peak torque at 3,000 rpm.
Ferrari's new 120-degree V-6 utilizes clever tricks to develop 654 hp from 3.0 liters. McLaren's V-6 is it's first in-house engine design. It spits out 671 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque from it's 120-degree powerplant.