Wards announces "Ten Best Engines" list for 2007
It's that time of year for all the end of year awards and top ten lists to surface, but Ward's always brings something different to the table. Rather than pick out the best car or truck that was new this year, the automotive trade journal picks the ten best engines, and this year it focused on motors that manage to balance the competing demands of more power and more fuel economy. Click the name of any engine below to view, or tour the Ten Best Engines list in our gallery.
- Audi AG: FSI 2.0L turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
- BMW AG: 3.0L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i Coupe)
- Daimler AG: 3.0L DOHC V-6 Turbodiesel (Mercedes E320 CDI)
- Ford Motor Co.: 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang Shelby GT/Bullitt)
- General Motors Corp.: 3.6L DOHC V-6 (Cadillac CTS)
- General Motors Corp.: 6.0L OHV V-8 Hybrid (GMC Yukon Hybrid)
- Honda Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Accord Coupe)
- Mazda Motor Corp.: 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed3)
- Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.7L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G37)
- Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
[Source: Ward's]
Gallery: Ward's 2007 Top Ten Engines
We agree with this list more than the one Ward's put out last year, which included Ford's then-new and rather unproven 3.5L V6 that we felt didn't match up similarly-sized sixes from the Japanese. This year, however, we're pleased to see the inclusion of GM's 3.6L V6 (shown above), although it's not specified if Ward's is referring to the one with or without direct injection, as well as the hybrid powertrain from GMC's Yukon Hybrid. BMW's twin-turbo inline-six is a no brainer, as is Nissan's competing 3.7L V6 that's a mainstay on any list of best engines. We don't have too much experience with either 3.5L V6 from Honda or Toyota, but are continually impressed with how much power these two engines produce. There were only two four-cylinder engines, but who can argue with the inclusion of VW's 2.0T FSI and the 2.3L turbo in the Mazdaspeed3? Finally, Daimler's 3.0L V6 turbodiesel BLUETEC motor is a nod to the greens, while the upgraded version of Ford's 4.6L V8 in the Shelby GT and Mustang Bullitt can probably produce the most wheel spin in this group.
PRESS RELEASE
NEW YORK--Penton Media's Ward's AutoWorld® magazine has named the winners of its annual listing of North America's "Ten Best Engines." Amid high-profile national debate over automotive fuel-efficiency, these engines reflect the automobile industry's success at improving fuel economy without compromising performance. The awards will be presented at a January 16, 2008 ceremony in Detroit during the North American International Auto Show. Details on Ward's "Ten Best Engines" will be featured in Ward's AutoWorld magazine and on www.wardsauto.com in January 2008.
Selected by Ward's AutoWorld editors, the 2008 list is the magazine's 14th annual ranking; the list is North America's only awards program honoring powertrain excellence.
The 2008 winners are:
• Audi AG: FSI 2.0L turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
• BMW AG: 3.0L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i Coupe)
• Daimler AG: 3.0L DOHC V-6 Turbodiesel (Mercedes E320 CDI)
• Ford Motor Co.: 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang Shelby GT/Bullitt)
• General Motors Corp.: 3.6L DOHC V-6 (Cadillac CTS)
• General Motors Corp.: 6.0L OHV V-8 Hybrid (GMC Yukon Hybrid)
• Honda Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Accord Coupe)
• Mazda Motor Corp.: 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed3)
• Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.7L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G37)
• Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
"The auto industry is in an era that will force enormous powertrain engineering advances," said Bill Visnic, Ward's editor for technical and special projects. "New fuel-efficiency standards are on the horizon, an improvement the public seems to demand. The fact that more than half of this year's 'Ten Best Engines' winners are six cylinder engines mirrors the shift occurring in the market and on engineering drawing boards."
This year, six Ward's editors nominated 37 engines for the competition. Over two months, editors scored each engine against all others in a number of objective and subjective parameters. Each engine must be available in a regular-production, U.S.-specification model on sale no later than the first quarter of 2008 in a vehicle priced no more than $54,000, a price cap indexed to the average cost of a new vehicle.
Ward's Automotive Group, a Southfield, Mich.-based division of Penton Media, has been a world-leading provider of auto industry news, data and analysis for more than 80 years. Ward's AutoWorld is a monthly magazine serving more than 68,000 automotive professionals globally. WardsAuto.com is an online subscription service delivering virtually all the industry news, data and analysis Ward's produces. Other Ward's titles include: the weekly newsletter Ward's Automotive Reports, monthly magazine Ward's Dealer Business, and a wealth of reference annuals, online databases, and customized data reports.
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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 6)
whofan 7:42PM (12/13/2007)
Ford`s new 3.5 ?
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ambientFLIER 8:49PM (12/13/2007)
...is nothing special.
ambientFLIER 8:56PM (12/13/2007)
So how many years has the VQ been on here...13 in a row?
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Grain 11:36PM (12/13/2007)
Simply incredible. Kudos to Nissan.
Mobius_1 10:41PM (12/13/2007)
The Audi TDI V12 with 1000+ lbft torque should be the ultimate one... alas it's not exactly available on a car that fits the criteria
But then again, the smaller TDI engines are pretty amazing too, if only they were available in the US and A
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MikeW 11:09PM (12/13/2007)
Right now the VERY high torque 6 speed auto only handles 1050meter-newtons. 774ft-lbs
Audi's V12 isn't going to be making 1000ft-lbs with the stock transmission, or not for very long.
See the Bentley Brooklands.
That One Person 1:06AM (12/14/2007)
Good list. But The turbo 2.0 from GM needs to be on there.
Also, why do people harp on Ford's 4.6 so much? Sure it may not be as powerful as the LS460's 4.6 but it delivers the power in a smooth manner. I know the whole hp/L discussion is pretty much useless but GM needs 5.3L to get 3 more hp.
And while there are a few V-6s that are out right now that produce just as much (if not more) power, look at how old the 4.6L is and I am sure that those V-6s cost more to produce. I'm sorry, but 300hp in a car that starts at $25k sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
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moparbryce 6:34PM (12/20/2007)
it has no get up and go.
a chrysler minivan with the 3.3
will out run it. that is with the 3.3 needing a tuneup.
so i see why that the ford 4.6 is raged on that much.
Mark Ryan 2:49AM (12/14/2007)
GM's LS3 has to be the best engine that fits the criteria. 400 + horsepower AND torques, weighs just 430lbs, 26MPG highway, and it's cheap and infinitely reliable.
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Phillip 4:36PM (12/14/2007)
Notice that there are to real quantitative scientific criteria that these engines are judged on.
This "10-best" is just laughable. All these fools do is review a few publicity flyer specs and choose a winner from that.
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Ghost Deany 5:45PM (12/15/2007)
no nissan vq 3.5?
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ambientFLIER 10:15PM (12/15/2007)
The 3.7 is the VQ. It's been stroked for the G37. Just like the VQ30 turned into the VQ35 around 2002.
Ghost Deany 1:11AM (12/16/2007)
i see, is the caddys 3.6 really that good? i just got a 05 3.6 cts is this a good engine
ambientFLIER 1:37AM (12/16/2007)
Do you have the base 3.6 or the direct injected one with 302hp? They are both pretty good.
gillyboy 12:46PM (12/16/2007)
I am curious as to the relationship of the 3.5L Honda motor to the 3.5L Acura mill. I believe that the latter is the same engine as used in the Ridgeline. The engine in the Ridgeline is quite capable and smooth(for my needs), and having owned Honda products for over 30 years, can state that they have been ever superior to occasion.
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ambientFLIER 3:19PM (12/16/2007)
They are the same engine. Sohc 3.5.
dws 9:48AM (12/17/2007)
I was wondering where the vq35 was.. that engine is quite a decent piece of kit
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ambientFLIER 10:15PM (12/17/2007)
It's the VQ37 that's on the list. Or did you already realize that?
moparbryce 6:28PM (12/20/2007)
if the DaimlerChrysler (yes thats what i said because this was delevoped by both but actually is a Bosch) is sooo good then why dont Chrysler LLC include this in there Lifetime Warrenty, yes its the same engine and transmission that is used in that Mercedes. So obviously it isnt "high quality" because both Daimler and Chrysler dont put anything more that 3/36000 on it.
so it tells me its just a piece of German Junk... like most other Mercedes. Chryslers are cool tho, they dont make thoose there, and they soon will only make cars in the us.
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moparbryce 6:37PM (12/20/2007)
and where is the bullet proof Chrysler 3.3 and 3.8v6?
they sure arent new engines... but they will run forever,
cheap, and hall some ass.
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