The VQ35DE engine - a 6-cylinder, normally aspirated powerplant - is Nissan's wundermotor. By making minor confi gurational changes, Nissan is able to power almost 3/4 of its American nameplates with the VQ badge; Maxima, Altima, Quest, and Murano all have engines that could have been plucked from the 350Z. Several other vehicles in the truck/SUV fl eet offer the distant cousin VQ40 (4.0L displacement) under the hood. This modular engine confi guration should allow Nissan dealers to keep parts on the shelf and prices well below the normally astronomical numbers that OE's love to quote. The next logical steps should scare the bejeesus out of Honda B and K folks everywhere; Frankenstein VQs. Oh - did we mention that the AWD Infi niti G35 and overseas Skylines also partake in the VQ35 phenomenon? We're sure somebody somewhere is going do the math.