Hyundai Lambda engine
The Hyundai Lambda engine family is the company's modern all-aluminum V6 engine. It is manufactured at Hyundai's HMMA plant in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. All versions of this engine use a timing chain.
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Hyundai Motor Company |
Production | 2006–present |
Layout | |
Configuration | V6 |
Displacement | 3.0 L (2,999 cc) 3.3 L (3,342 cc) 3.5 L (3,470 cc) 3.8 L (3,778 cc) |
Cylinder bore | 92 mm (3.62 in) 96 mm (3.78 in) |
Piston stroke | 75.2 mm (2.96 in) 83.8 mm (3.30 in) 87 mm (3.43 in) |
Block material | Aluminium |
Head material | Aluminium |
Valvetrain | DOHC 4 valves x cyl. with VVT |
Compression ratio | 10.4:1–13.0:1 |
Combustion | |
Turbocharger | On 2016 Lambda II T-GDi and race versions |
Fuel system | Direct injection |
Fuel type | Gasoline |
Cooling system | Water-cooled |
Output | |
Power output | 235–750 hp (175–559 kW; 238–760 PS) |
Torque output | 226–376 lb⋅ft (306–510 N⋅m) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Hyundai Sigma engine |
Lambda MPi
This engine family includes aluminum block and heads, variable valve timing on the intake side, and 4 valves per cylinder.

The 3.3 Lambda MPi G6DB version was introduced with the 2006 Sonata. It produces 238 PS (175 kW; 235 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 31.2 kg⋅m (306 N⋅m; 226 lb⋅ft) of torque at 3,500 rpm. Bore and stroke measure 92 mm × 83.8 mm (3.62 in × 3.30 in) for a total displacement of 3,342 cc (3.3 L).
Applications:
- 2006–2008 Hyundai Azera
- 2007–2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2006–2008 Hyundai Sonata
- 2005–2009 Kia Sorento
The 3.8 L (3,778 cc) G6DA version produces 267 PS (196 kW; 263 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 35.5 kg⋅m (348 N⋅m; 257 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,500 rpm. It has a 96 mm × 87 mm (3.78 in × 3.43 in) bore and stroke.
Applications:
- 2006–2010 Hyundai Azera
- 2007–2008 Hyundai Centennial/Equus
- 2007–2012 Hyundai Veracruz
- 2007–2010 Kia Amanti/Opirus
- 2007–2009 Hyundai Entourage
- 2006–2010 Kia Carnival/Sedona
- 2007–2009 Kia Sorento
Lambda II MPi
Changes to Lambda MPi series include adding a CVVT on the exhaust side as well, therefore it does have Dual CVVT.
The 3.0 Lambda II MPi engine is rated 250 PS (184 kW; 247 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 28.8 kg⋅m (282 N⋅m; 208 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,000 rpm.
Applications:
- 2012–present Hyundai Azera
The 3.3 Lambda II MPi version produces 266–274 PS (196–202 kW; 262–270 hp) at 6,200-6,400 rpm and 32.2–32.5 kg⋅m (316–319 N⋅m; 233–235 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,500-5,300 rpm depending on the application. Bore and stroke measure 92 mm × 83.8 mm (3.62 in × 3.30 in) for a total displacement of 3,342 cc (3.3 L).
Applications:
- 2009–2011 Hyundai Azera
- 2009–2010 Hyundai Sonata
- 2017–present Kia Cadenza
The 3.5 L (3,470 cc) Lambda II MPi G6DC Lambda II version debuted in the global version of the 2011 Kia Sorento. This engine comes with and is rated at 280–290 PS (206–213 kW; 276–286 hp) at 6,300-6,600 rpm and 34.3 kg⋅m (336 N⋅m; 248 lb⋅ft) at 5,000 rpm depending on application. Bore x stroke measure 92 mm × 87 mm (3.62 in × 3.43 in); it uses similar technology as the 3.3L and 3.8L variants of the Lambda family.
Applications:
- 2005–2014 (VQ) Kia Carnival
- 2010–2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2011–2016 Kia Cadenza
- 2020–present Kia Cadenza
- 2011–present Kia Sedona
- 2011–present Kia Sorento
- 2018–present Hyundai Azera
- 2019–present Hyundai Santa Fe
The 3.8 L (3,778 cc) version produces 287 PS (211 kW; 283 hp) at 6,200 rpm and 36.4 kg⋅m (357 N⋅m; 263 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,500 rpm. It has a 96 mm × 87 mm (3.78 in × 3.43 in) bore and stroke.
Applications:
- 2005–2014 (VQ) Kia Carnival
- 2011 Hyundai Azera
- 2009–2014 Kia Borrego/Mohave
Lambda II GDi
This engine series includes Dual CVVT and GDI.
Hyundai debuted a GDI version of Lambda V6 at 2010 Beijing Auto Show. Hyundai presented few details but the engine has power rating of 302 PS (222 kW; 298 hp).
The 3.0 Lambda II GDi G6DG version released with the Azera/Grandeur 5th generation.[1] and produces 270 PS (199 kW; 266 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 32.3 kg⋅m (317 N⋅m; 234 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,300 rpm. Compression ratio is 11.0:1. Bore and stroke measure 92 mm × 75.2 mm (3.62 in × 2.96 in) for a total displacement of 3.0 L (2,999 cc).
Applications:
- 2012-2019 Hyundai Azera
The 3.3L G6DH version was introduced with the 2012 Azera. The engine produces 284–298 PS (209–219 kW; 280–294 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 34.3–35.3 kg⋅m (336–346 N⋅m; 248–255 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,200 rpm.
Applications:
- 2012–present Hyundai Azera
- 2013–present Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2015–present Kia Sedona
- 2014–present Kia Cadenza
- 2014–present Kia Sorento
- 2014–present Kia Carnival
The 3.8L Atkinson cycle version was introduced with the 2020 Hyundai Paliside and 2020 Kia Telluride. Compression ratio is 13.0:1 and the engine produces 295 PS (217 kW; 291 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 36.2 kg⋅m (355 N⋅m; 262 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,200 rpm.
Applications:
- 2019–present Hyundai Palisade
- 2019–present Kia Telluride
Lambda II RS MPi
The Lambda II RS (Rear-drive Sport) designation denotes longitudinal Lambda engine variants.
The 3.8L version for the Genesis Coupe produces 303–310 PS (223–228 kW; 299–306 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 36.6 kg⋅m (359 N⋅m; 265 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,600 rpm, while in the Genesis (Sedan) it produces 290 PS (213 kW; 286 hp) at 6,200 rpm and 36.5 kg⋅m (358 N⋅m; 264 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,500 rpm.
The engine is all-aluminum, featuring DOHC, Dual CVVT and 24 valves.
Applications:
- 2009–2014 Hyundai Genesis
- 2010–2015 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
- 2013–2017 Oulim Spirra CregiT
Lambda II RS GDi
Hyundai released a GDI variant of the Lambda RS engine for the 2012 Genesis and 2013 Genesis Coupe.
The 3.8 L (3,778 cc) version compression ratio is 11.5:1 and power output varies depending on configuration.
It produces:
- 338 PS (249 kW; 333 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 40.3 kg⋅m (395 N⋅m; 291 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,100 rpm for the 2012–2014 Genesis Sedan
- 353 PS (260 kW; 348 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 40.8 kg⋅m (400 N⋅m; 295 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,300 rpm for the Genesis Coupe
- 315 PS (232 kW; 311 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 40.5 kg⋅m (397 N⋅m; 293 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,000 rpm for the 2015 and up Genesis Sedan and Genesis G80.
Applications:
- 2011–2016 Hyundai Genesis
- 2012–present Kia Quoris
- 2013–2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
- 2017–2020 Genesis G80
Lambda II RS T-GDi
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It is a version of Lambda II GDi 3.3 engine with two turbochargers.[2]
It produces 370 PS (272 kW; 365 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 52 kg⋅m (510 N⋅m; 376 lb⋅ft) of torque between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm.
Applications:
- 2016–2020 Genesis G80
- 2016–present Genesis G90
- 2017–present Genesis G70
- 2017–present Kia Stinger
- 2018-present Kia K9
Race engines
Hyundai have developed a 750 bhp (559 kW; 760 PS) version of the Lambda II RS MPi engine in an attempt to break the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) record. The race-version is reported to have been bored and stroked to 4.1 liters of swept displacement with an added turbocharger to increase power output.
Crate engines
On 5 November 2013, Hyundai announced the creation of a new factory crate engine program at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, which initially included a Lambda 3.8-liter, direct-injected V6 engine. The crate engine program began in December 2013.[3]