AgentWD-40

I'm not sure if this has been posted before. I'm sure there was speculation and rumours about this. I actually don't know if this engine will be coming to the Lexus though. There will be a 282 HP (with 328 lb ft torque) VVT-i 4.7L that will go in the 05 Tundra though. I'm assuming that if it is going in the Tundra next year it won't be far from the Lexus either. Read this thread over at Tundra Solutions for a bit more info. You can also look at this photo gallery to see screen shots of the 05 Tundra dealer ordering info.

pbm317

This would be great!!

AgentWD-40

Looks like this is confirmed. A guy over at TS called his local Lexus dealer when this news hit the boards and the sales man told him the GX would be getting the VVT-i 4.7L. I'm thinking this will probably be added to every vehicle that uses the 4.7L. I guess we will see.

CRB

I wouldn't count your chickens before they are hatched guys. ( Or upgraded V-8 engines for that matter.)

It may be phased in like the 3.3L V-6 engine that debuted in the 330RX. It is in the Highlander and Camry SE this year but the Camry CE and even the upmarket XLE soldier on with the 3.0L mill.

We can hope but don't count on it. BTW, I wonder what one of these beasties would produce with a TRD blower.

TRD43

Id like to see that as well =)

Kash

i want a trd blower

177mph

The 05 GX will have the upgraded engine. More horses and torque. Lexus has confirmed it.

Rx900

can u post the site, if there is, where u got that info, 177mph??

<VENOM>

The current V8 has 320 torque, the 05 rumor increases the torque to 328

AgentWD-40

It is 315 in the Tundra and the 328 number is from the Tundra as well. Perhaps it will be in a slightly different tune in the Lexus, like it is now. If you want more torque you can always add headers, exhaust and a Unichip. Verndog, over at Tundra Solutions was able to pick up 43 lb ft of torque (and ~24 hp) with headers, exhaust and a unichip. Those are some solid gains. There is also forced unduction. Those seem to be the most reliable ways of adding power.

I agree though, the torque number isn't a huge jump no matter what numbers you use. What this does tell me is that Toyota got it close to the max number without VVT-i. By adding VVT-i they were able to maintain a higher torque number than before at higher RPM's, which is why we are seeing the increase in HP. The numbers may not look impressive but I'll bet it drives much better with a more spread out torque curve. I guess time will tell.

177mph

I got the info straight from lexus corporate - phone call.

Threxx

The real question (for me at least, since my budget is not that high), is: will the new 4.7 go into the 4Runner for the 2005 model year as well?

Well first of all, strictly going by the numbers, the horsepower increase is pretty darned nice. Most cars with a neutrally biased cam see a roughly 10% increase in both horsepower and torque with the addition of vtec/i-vtec/vvt/vvt-i to a motor that previous had no valve timing technology.

What I see here is that the horsepower gains are well over 10% while the torque gains are well under 10%. What does this tell me? It tells me what I (and most everyone else) already knew: the cam in the 4.7L i-force was torque-biased. Thus the addition of vtec allowed the i-force to gain a high-rpm horsepower bias while not losing any of its previously established bias toward low-rpm torque.

Furthermore, a lot of the benefit of variable valve timing is power 'under the curve'. What this means is that even though most people focus on the peak numbers of a motor as the end-all of performance... variable valve timing creates a lot 'flatter' of a power curve which creates a lot more usable power when driving in every day stoplight to stoplight driving situations.

Variable valve timing with intelligence (vvt-i, rather than just vvt) doesn't increase peak power at all, but it does further increase the power under the curve, as it determines which RPM to switch cam profiles based on the driver's driving habits, throttle position, rpm, speed, gear, and so on, rather than just having a pre-determined rpm number from the factory for which to switch the cam profile every time.

Tony

Good job explaining that Threxx

BMW has been doing this with all of their 8 cylinder engines except they call it varialbe vanos technology. Their usable power is flat till redline which is awesome for mid range torque and high speed passing.

gs400jon

I'm reading all this stuff about a GX engine upgrade and finally realize that I had a car with VVT-i. I sold a 1999 GS400 (19,300 miles) and drove the GX home the same day. The GS engine was so strong off the line and getting on the freeway. Other than that, I don't miss it at all compared to the GX. I'm happy with 235 "non intelligent" HP, especially since my driving habits have changed. Among other things, I was getting tired of looking up at all the vehicles around me and being afraid to back out of a parking place because a SUV, minivan or pickup was blocking my view. Driving at 125 MPH isn't all that thrilling compared to seeing everything behind me with the backup camera.

Rx900

gs400jon, well in a gx, u have to drive slower because its heavier so takes more time, power, and GAS to accelerate, second, Gs is a car so its easier to drive faster in that and not having to worry that it will tip over or something. if you noticed, in the gx, when u drive about 80-85 in the freeway, you feel a little "dancing", like the car's moving a little in the lane ur in. it's taller so it goes against the wind. in a gs, it'll just glide thru the wind.