[Duncan]

Edmund's isn't impressed with the power the 3.5 is going to make. However, that's because they're only guessing at 250hp. Ford just announced at the NY Auto Show that the new 3.5 will put out either 265 or 263 horses, depending on platform, which is right up there with Nissan's class-leading VQ 3.5 (now rated by the SAE at 255hp in the Maxima, down from the old and less accurate rating).

This is also the engine going into the new CX-9, by the way, and it uses a newly modified version of the current 6 platform. So it makes sense that the next 6 would keep it in the family.

My only question, though, is what happens to the four-cylinder? Does it get bigger (say, 2.5 liters, like the version of the MZR in the B2500 pickup) or will the MZI 3.0 just take over for it instead?

I wonder if we're not looking instead at the beginnings of a Millenia replacement to finally tackle the Maxima head-on, perhaps something with the MZI 3.5 and AWD? Ford has said that the new 3.5 will support direct-injection and turbo applications as well...