Infiniti last month introduced the VR30DDTT engine, a 3.0-liter direct-injected, twin-turbo V6 that will power the new Q50 sedan. While this engine shares a family resemblance with the 3.8-liter V6 VR38DETT found in the wicked Nissan GT-R, officials say there are enough differences to declare that it is an all-new engine. The Infiniti VR replaces the venerable VQ series of engines that were named to the Ward’s 10 Best Engines list 14 times.

Here’s the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 from the Nissan GT-R. The Infiniti engine features integrated exhaust manifolds in the cylinder heads while the GT-R still uses bolt-on manifolds.

The obvious disparity between the two is displacement, and the VR30 uses a different block dedicated to three liters. Bore and stroke are both 86.0 mm. Infiniti utilizes a cylinder bore coating on the aluminum block, which negates the need for iron liners and reduces the engine’s weight by just under four pounds. The coating is also designed to reduce friction by 40 percent over the previous engines. The core engine weighs 429.5 pounds, which is almost 40 pounds less the VQ. However, the new turbos and intercooler add almost 57 pounds.

The VR30 will be offered in 300- and 400-horsepower versions with boost control and calibrations the biggest differentiating factors. The more powerful engine will have two water pumps for more effective heat management, and it will sport an optical speed sensor on the turbos to allow 30 percent more boost. Infiniti says the turbos can spin up to 240,000 rpm.

The cylinder heads were designed with integrated exhaust manifolds so that the turbos bolt right up, resulting in a shorter path for the exhaust gasses to hit the turbos and catalytic converters. Other tricks include variable valve timing controlled with an electric motor on the intake valves (the exhaust valves are handled with a more conventional hydraulic phaser) and water-cooled intercoolers mounted on top of the engine. Even with the improved power, Infiniti says fuel efficiency improves 6.7 percent. The engine will be manufactured in Iwaki, Fukushima.

Note the intercoolers mounted on top of the engine.