2010 LGT named in Ward's Ten Best Engines

[D0WNxSH1FT]

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/wards-announces-10-best-engines-for-2010/

 

Ward's announces 10 Best Engines for 2010

 

"Engines employing new technologies to deliver both fuel economy and performance dominate North America's only engine award program

 

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Ward's 10 Best Engines, North America's only award program honoring engine excellence, have been announced for 2010. The list symbolizes the auto industry's swift movement toward downsized engines to attract consumers who now are making fuel efficiency a top priority.

 

Highlights: Two turbodiesels (one each from BMW AG and Volkswagen AG) and two hybrid-electric vehicles (from Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.) made this year's list by achieving fuel economy of nearly 40 mpg (5.8 L/100 km) in the VW Jetta SportWagen TDI and up to 55 mpg (4.2 L/100 km) in the Toyota Prius in real-world driving.

 

This year's winners and the applications tested:

 

* 2.0L TFSI Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A4)

* 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S4)

* 3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel (BMW 335d)

* 2.5L DOHC I-4 Hybrid (Ford Fusion Hybrid)

* 3.5L EcoBoost Turbocharged DOHC V-6 (Ford Taurus SHO)

* 2.4L Ecotec DOHC I-4 (Chevrolet Equinox)

* 4.6L Tau DOHC V-8 (Hyundai Genesis)

* 2.5L Turbocharged DOHC H-4 (Subaru Legacy 2.5GT)

* 1.8L DOHC I-4 Hybrid (Toyota Prius)

* 2.0L SOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI)

 

"This year's list embodies how the industry is responding to demands for higher fuel economy and lower emissions without shortchanging performance," Ward's AutoWorld Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter said. "Auto makers are using innovative designs and advanced technology to boost horsepower and torque while downsizing engines and increasing efficiency."

 

To be eligible for the competition, each engine must be available in a regular-production U.S.-specification model on sale no later than first-quarter 2010, in a vehicle priced no more than $54,000, a price cap indexed to the average cost of a new vehicle.

 

Throughout October and November, six editors of Ward's Automotive Group tested 34 vehicles from 13 auto makers in their normal driving cycles in metro Detroit. They scored each engine based on horsepower, torque, refinement, technical relevance and comparative data. Each engine was evaluated because it was all-new, offered significant technology upgrades or was a returning winner from last year.

 

The awards will be presented at a Jan. 13 ceremony in Detroit during the North American International Auto Show. A full story on the Ward's 10 Best Engines is now available on Wardsauto.com.

 

Ward's Automotive Group is a world-leading provider of auto industry news, data and analysis, having served the industry's information needs for nearly 80 years. Ward's AutoWorld is a monthly magazine serving more than 68,000 automotive professionals. The twice-monthly newsletter Ward's Engine & Vehicle Technology Update provides analysis of engineering advancements and technical issues. WardsAuto.com is an online subscription service delivering virtually all the industry news, data and analysis compiled by Ward's Automotive Group, the world's leader in automotive industry information. A Southfield, MI - based division of Penton Media, Inc., Ward's Automotive Group also publishes the weekly industry newsletter Ward's Automotive Reports, the monthly magazine Ward's Dealer Business, and offers a wealth of other automotive information services including reference annuals, online databases, and customized data reports." [autoblog]

[The B4]

Nice. Subaru is winning awards across the board.

[Beanboy]

I wish the engine was upside down.

[Spoonwacker]

I like that Jalopnik's spin on this story managed to turn it into a LGT.com-style backhanded compliment

The new Subaru Legacy 2.5GT might be lacking in the looks department compared to the outgoing model, but the pancake motor under the hood is still a great engine. A little over 100 HP per liter for a family sedan is pretty darn ridiculous, and if you drop a hot exhaust on the car, it sounds like an angry UPS truck.

[Guest heightsgtltd]

[devobuzz]

I think I remember the 2.5L GT engine winning the "engine of the year award" or something like that a few years back. Pretty sure it was posted here.

[rao]

Obviously the best car evAr has the best engine evAR

[TrueWhiteBoy]

Glad to hear it

 

I'm curious, what's special about the Genesis' V8?

[IwannaSportSedan]

Dunno, seems to do well with ~370-380hp out of 4.6 liters, with smoothness, and near V6 fuel economy levels... and it is offered in a car thousands of dollars cheaper than any german mid-full sedan with a V8 under the hood.

 

Plus, it is getting a bit of a power bump, now.

 

Sometimes it isn't about every new toy included, but rather doing the job very well even without some of those toys.