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The VRH engine family consists of several racing engines built by Nissan Motor Company beginning in the late 1980s. All VRH engines are in a V8 configuration and can be either naturally aspirated or forced induction in design. Some of the VRH engines are loosely based on Nissan's production V8 blocks including the VH and VK engines, while others were designed from the ground up for racing and share no components with production blocks.
Contents
- History
- Other VRH Racing Engines
- Specification of VRH30T
- Specification of VRH35Z
- Specification of VRH35L
- Specification of VRH35ADE
- Specification of VRH34A
- Specification of VRH50A
- References
V=V engine configuration R=Racing H=The eighth letter of the alphabet = Eight cylinders
History
In 1987 Nissan began work on an engine exclusively for race use and began work on the VEJ30 engine, developed by Yoshikazu Ishikawa. This engine was based on old technology, and was not a success. For 1988 the VEJ30 was improved by Yoshimasa Hayashi and renamed the VRH30. Changes included increasing displacement to 3.4L.
This engine was still based on the obsolete VEJ30 and development of the all new VRH35 was started in parallel with VRH30. In 1989 the VRH35 appeared as a new development engine and was used in the Nissan R89C. The improved VRH35Z appeared in 1990 in the R90C.
In 1997 Nissan, working in partnership with Tom Walkinshaw Racing, fielded an updated version of the engine called the VRH35L in the R390 GT1. This revised engine produces around 641 hp (478 kW) at 6800 rpm.
The engine was also used in the 1998 Courage Compétition C51 Nissan at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both cars retired.
The design of the engine was later sold to McLaren Automotive where it formed the basis of their M838T family of engines.
Other VRH Racing Engines
A naturally aspirated 5.0L version, the VRH50A, was used in the Nissan R391. The VRH35ADE, was used by Infiniti in their Indy race car. Other naturally aspirated versions are the VRH34A and VRH34B, used by Nissan in their Nissan GT-R Super GT race car.
The VRH34A is a 3.4L(3396cc) V8 that produces 450-500 ps and over 290 lb-ft (393 N-m).
The VRH34B is a 3.4L(3396cc) V8 that produces 500-530 ps and over 325 lb-ft (393 N-m).
The VRH35ADE is a 3.5L(3495cc) V8 that produces 650 ps @10700 rpm and 320 lb-ft (434 N-m)@10400 rpm.
The VRH50A is a 5.0L(4997cc) V8 that produces 650 ps @7200 rpm and 470 lb-ft (618 N-m)@6000 rpm.
The VRH engines also formed the basis for McLaren's M838T engine used in the McLaren MP4-12C supercar.