I dunno, does anyone else think this award is about as honest and unbiased as Motor Trend's COY? I'll admit that I do have a bit of a bias, but still, Ford's 4.6 mod motor is nothing outstanding, and I'd certainly choose an LS7 over a Hemi. I haven't driven a 3.5 Duratec but any reviews I've read don't seem to indicate it's anything special. Sometimes I think they favour something new just because it's new.

Anyway, here's the winners.

* Audi AG 2L turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
* BMW AG 3L DOHC I-6 (Z4 3.0si)
* BMW AG 3L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i)
* DaimlerChrysler AG 3L DOHC V-6 turbodiesel (Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec/Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD)
* DaimlerChrysler AG Hemi 5.7L OHV V-8 (Chrysler 300C)
* Ford Motor Co. Duratec 35 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX)
* Ford Motor Co. 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang GT/Mustang Shelby GT)
* Mazda Motor Corp. 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed3)
* Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35)
* Toyota Motor Corp. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)

http://wardsauto.com/home/best_engines_winners/

 

The fact that the the industry powerhouse (both in performance and in sales volume) LSx does not make the list pretty much negates its credibility, imho.

That engine is simply one of the best in the world for any sort of volume production.

The fact that no LSx variants are on the list, while the Hemi and the Mod V8 ARE, is even more appalling.

Think maybe they are fond of 3.0-3.5L sixes? Good Lord...

The small block trounces all of them in terms of impact on the market. All while probably being cheaper to produce than all of them.



Why does the weaksauce 200 hp Audi 2.0L DI turbo make it, or even the 26x hp 2.3L DI turbo Mazda engine, while the smaller but equally powerful 260 hp 2.0L DI turbo ecotec does not?

Lame.

 

The LS7 can't be included I think because it's not in whatever their range is for determining it.
Regardless, considering the LS2 in the Goat is probably in the range, it's quite ridiculous that it's not on the list.

This isn't even considering that the Hemi pales in comparison to the LSx line. Good power but crappy *** mileage compared to the LSxs.

 

It's a popularity contest. Nothing to get worked up over.

The 5.7 Hemis are unmoddable, fuel thirsty and in 2007 will be behind the times in terms of power (LS2 already had the cars covered and now the 6.0 in the trucks trump the truck Hemi).

The Ford 4.6 needs no comment. It's a perfectly acceptable base V8 motor (though 5 years later still does not equal the LS1 in power or packaging heh)....

Edited: Shelby GT is a special edition GT. My bad.

 

Agreed. As for it being a popularity contest (like much of the media nuthuggers), most of us know that, but the general public doesn't...



Sigh.

 

Are we forgetting about the 2.0l Turbo Ecotec? What a load this list is!

 

The Shelby GT is the Shelby 350GT Hertz model, that regular people can buy.

 

I caught it, thanks.

My head spins with what special edition Mustang is coming when. An indictment on how Chevy has handled our car in the past.

 

Somebody though (I can't remember which mag right now? ) awarded the LS7 "Engine of the Year" just recently .

That list looks like it's more based off the CAR the engine is in, and not on the engine itself . Whoop-dee-doo .

Huh, the 6.1L Hemi (I realize, not on the list, but a Hemi nonetheless) with it's "awesome" 425 HP, couldn't manage to push a Charger SRT-8 down the track any faster than my "piddley" little LS1 could push my Camaro . What were those times again?? Oh, right, 13.4 @ 107.65 for ME, and I believe ~13.8x @ ~104.xx for the Charger .

Ha! I hope not!!!

 

Why is the 291 hp 4.2 Atlas I6 not on the list? It was on for a few years, if I recall correctly. Maybe GM didn't send Ward a big enough check to cover the import checks.

 

With the 2.0 LSJ supercharged ecotec making the list last year , I cannot believe the LNF direct injected 2.0 turbo eco isnt in that list .

 

The 3-valve 4.6 is on the list because it is a fairly "hi tech" OHC V8 that is available in a $25K car.

As much as noone here wants to admit, this is significant. It makes good power, sounds fantastic, is very modable, and has some of the lowest emissions you can have.

While we can all agree that the LS2 is a great engine, it still carries the stigma of being a low tech pushrod engine. Also, the lowest price of entry is close to $35K.

The Hemi would make it because, while still being a "low tech" pushrod engine, it does offer AFM. It is also offered in next to everything............. from low price trucks, to high end sedans.

The Duratech 35 would make it because it achieves numbers that are comparable with the best out there.............. yet it does so with next to no "high tech" DOHC features. It uses a very mild variable cam timing on one side only................... and runs on regular. Nothing else. Plus, it displaces the same size, and weighs about the same as the Duratech 30. It is also built to support about any technology that Ford can throw at it, in the years to come. It will eventually be in 1 our of 5 vehicles that Ford builds.

As much as those here may not like it, this makes these engines very significant.

GM would have probably had a V6 on there.............. if they didn't make 5 of them.............. with 40 different variations (hopefully slight exaggeration here).

Also, please remember that fuel economy is as much a product of gearing and transmission............. as anything else. Any given engine can have fantastic, or horrific fuel economy............ it just depends on what it is in. Ford has tuned their engines to achieve respectable fuel economy, and steller emissions. Others prioritize differently.

 

Lets see. I have an LS1 in my 98 SS that gets autox roughly 60 events a year, not to mention an occasional run at the drag strip. This motor has never let me down and has never had a problem. Its now pushing 75k and is fast as the day I bought it.
My Ram truck has the hemi. I baby it, never race it and its also hitting 75k. It leaks oil and is now stalling all the time. Guess what truck I am buying next time?

 

Amen to that. I'm amazed that the LS2 and the LS7 were ignored. The LS7 should be on the list BECAUSE of what it achieves with simple pushrods.

 

The 5.3 L in the Impala / Monte Carlo / Grand Prix has active fuel management too ..... and I bet it gets far better mileage than the Hemi?

Unfortunately, we can't count the LS1 because it's out-dated at this point, and probably because the Goat had such a small production run, advertising it as having one of the "10 best engines" won't change its sales, because its production is now done anyway . I guess they have to promote something CURRENT. Although the 'Vette still carries the LS2 and the LS7, but I'm sure its price tag is too high for Ward's consideration???
Let's see, my Dad's '00 Sierra w/the 5.3 L has about ~140k on it, has probably only had 1 tune-up done (maybe? ... he didn't buy it new, so who knows??) and yet that baby runs like a top . In the ~2 years we've owned it, we've pulled trailers all over Ontario with that truck! Towed the '73 Camaro to the track (~2.5 hrs each way), towed dozens of heavy loads of lumber, snowmobiles, etc., to/from our cottage (~1.5 hrs each way), and it runs as clean (emissions testing here) and smooth as a new GM truck on the lot . Oh, and that thing goes like a bat out of hell too!! (for a truck ). AND it gets exceptional fuel mileage!

.....but that doesn't count either?????