http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_m...economy_ways/index.htm
No surprise, Nissan's VQ engine makes the list for 11th consequtive time from the list's inception 11 years ago.
No surprise, Nissan's VQ engine makes the list for 11th consequtive time from the list's inception 11 years ago.
Muscle, Economy: Have It Both Ways With Ward?s 10 Best Engines
By Bill Visnic
WardsAuto.com, Dec 8 2004
Cylinder deactivation, gasoline-electric hybridization and advanced diesel technology all are represented by winners on this year?s list.
The winners of Ward?s 10 Best Engines awards for 2005 demonstrate that you can have it all: Many of the winning engines highlight sophisticated new technology that not only improves mileage but also pumps up power.
The 2005 list of the industry?s most exemplary engines marks the 11th year for the Ward?s 10 Best Engines program.
Cylinder deactivation, gasoline-electric hybridization and advanced diesel technology all are represented by winners on this year?s list.
Another important emerging technology that generates more power while also improving fuel economy ? direct gasoline injection ? brings home a win for Audi AG in its first North American application of its all-new ?FSI? 3.2L DOHC V-6. The 255-hp FSI (Fuel Straight Injection) V-6 produces 35 hp more than the engine it replaces, yet delivers as much as 10% better fuel economy. Audi?s direct-injection powerhouse also operates on regular-grade unleaded gasoline.
Cylinder deactivation is another critical new fuel-saving technology featured on two other Ward?s 10 Best Engines winners for 2005.
DaimlerChrysler AG?s now-famous 5.7L ?Hemi? V-8 incorporates the company?s Multi-Displacement System to instantaneously shut down four of the cylinders when not needed. Meanwhile, when the Hemi?s vaunted power is required, MDS immediately reactivates the cylinders to generate the engine?s full 340 hp.
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. also uses its own cylinder-deactivation system ? Variable Cylinder Management ? to boost fuel economy for the new 3L SOHC V-6 used in its Accord Hybrid.
The Hybrid Accord is the first production-car use of cylinder deactivation for an overhead-cam engine. The car also employs Honda?s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid-electric technology to boost power and increase fuel efficiency. While the Accord Hybrid is 15 hp stronger than its traditional-powertrain counterpart, VCM and IMA combine to improve fuel efficiency by a startling 23% on the highway and 38% in city driving.
DaimlerChrysler?s Mercedes-Benz unit wins a Ward?s 10 Best Engines award in the first year of availability of its new CDI 3.2L inline 6-cyl. turbodiesel. As with Audi?s FSI, the Mercedes diesel employs high-tech direct fuel injection and a host of other sophisticated electronic controls to create a diesel engine that generates spectacular torque and almost 40% better fuel economy than a similar-size gasoline 6-cyl.
Power for power?s sake is not forgotten on this year?s list, however. Ford Motor Co. wins with its heavily revised 4.6L SOHC V-8 in the all-new Ford Mustang GT. Ward?s testers praised Ford for creating a refined V-8 that produces 300 hp at an affordable price and called it ?the perfect new-generation muscle-car V-8.?
Honda proves it also ?knows horsepower? with its first-time winner, the Acura 3.5L SOHC V-6. The new V-6 pounds out 300 hp, making it one of the most powerful naturally aspirated 6-cyl. engines in production. The 3.5L V-6 is used in Acura?s all-new RL luxury/sport sedan.
Audi returns for a second year with its smooth and powerful 4.2L DOHC V-8 that generates a thundering 340 hp in a package that seamlessly integrates sophistication and muscle. Audi?s premium V-8 remains one of the market?s most powerful V-8s for its size.
Also returning as a Ward?s 10 Best Engines winner is General Motors Corp.?s Vortec 4.2L DOHC inline 6-cyl., used in its midsize SUVs. The Vortec 4200 enjoys its fourth consecutive year as a 10 Best Engines winner.
Taking its unrivaled 11th consecutive 10 Best Engines trophy is Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.?s 3.5L DOHC V-6. The only engine to win an award every year since the program?s inception, Nissan engineers improved the ?VQ? V-6 with new levels of power and torque for 2005.
Ward?s 10 Best Engines list is completed by Mazda Motor Corp.?s unique Renesis rotary engine. This 1.3L powerhouse returns for a second year fronting the same impressive design advances and spectacular power output, in relation to its size, that virtually guaranteed a win in 2004, its first year of availability.
Ward?s tested 36 car and truck engines for its 2005 10 Best Engines competition, evaluating them based on the crucial engine characteristics of power; torque; noise, vibration and harshness (NVH); technical relevance and basic comparative numbers. All engines nominated and tested were in vehicles with a base price less than $52,500.
The 2005 winners, along with the vehicles they were tested in:
· Audi FSI 3.2L DOHC V-6 (Audi A6)
· Audi 4.2L DOHC V-8 (Audi S4)
· DaimlerChrysler 5.7L Hemi Magnum OHV V-8 (Chrysler 300C)
· DaimlerChrysler 3.2L DOHC I-6 CDI Turbodiesel (Mercedes E320 CDI)
· Ford 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang GT)
· General Motors 4.2L DOHC Vortec I-6 (Chevrolet TrailBlazer)
· Honda 3L SOHC V-6 IMA Hybrid (Honda Accord Hybrid)
· Honda 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Acura RL)
· Mazda 1.3L Renesis rotary (Mazda RX-8)
· Nissan 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35 Coupe)
