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)

 

"This year, in many ways, is going to be highly transitional for the auto industry, and I think our 10 Best Engines selections reflect that," said Bill Visnic, Ward’s senior technical editor. "The preponderance of small- and medium-displacement forced-induction engines winning 10 Best Engines awards may signal to the industry -- and public – that infatuation with displacement is waning. Instead of displacement, we're seeing a number of technical means to deliver the power all drivers find satisfying and comforting, while enabling a shift towards increased fuel economy that will improve the environment and enhance the nation's energy security."

The awards will be presented at a banquet in Detroit during the North American International Auto Show on January 10, 2007. Details of the Ward’s 10 Best Engines will be featured in Ward’s AutoWorld magazine, Ward’s Engine & Vehicle Technology Update newsletter, and on the Web site www.wardsauto.com in January 2007.

This year, six Ward’s editors nominated 33 different engines for the 10 Best Engines competition. Over a nearly 2-month period, the editors evaluated and 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 2007 in a vehicle priced no more than $54,000, a price cap indexed to the average cost of a new vehicle. For further information on the awards, please contact Drew Winter, editor in chief at (248) 799-2625 or email dwinter@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 globally. 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. Based in Southfield Mich., Ward’s Automotive Group also offers a wealth of other automotive information services including reference annuals, online databases, and customized data reports. Ward’s is part of Prism Business Media’s Transportation Group, which also includes includes American Trucker®, Bulk Transporter®, FleetOwner®, FleetSeek®, Refrigerated Transporter™, Truck Body Builders® and the Truck Blue Book®, as well as a variety of industry-specific rich data services.

 

Great find! Thanks for posting.

I wonder what response this would get on Evo and STi forums. Wait, I do!

 

why did they say infiniti instead of or with 350z?

 

Are those listings in order? Or has it not been decided which is the best?

 

Am I the only one who thinks that's a weird list?

 

No LS-series engines?

 

ford and chrysler beat out Toyota and Nissan?

What about the Sti, wasn't it the best motor for 06, wouldn't they at least make the top ten again in 07??

Don't get me wrong, i am happy yo see nissan on ther cause i plan on buying an 07 Z, but there are so many new cars and engines. This just took me by suprise?

 

it's the VQ35HR and the 07 Infiniti G35 has it.

 

If the editors based their ranking on only objective parameters the list would have been different. This is probably why we didn't see some of the engines we expected to see on the list. The 54k price limit also explains why there aren't exotic engines on the list e.g. LS7.

Either way the list seems pretty solid and its pretty cool to see that 8/10 engines on the list are < 3.5 liters and many are FI for technology and the VQ35HR

 

Ward's 10 best engines - 2007

I have two at home,


Mazda Motor Corp. 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (My wife's CX-7)
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (My 350Z)

 

They don't rank them 1-10. That list is in no particular order. It's just their ten best. You can't really compare a HEMI V8 to a I-4.

 

Nice,

Mazda's DISI is a beast. The mazdaspeed3 is a killer fwd hatchback.

 

They are listed alphabetically, not by rank.

 

The inline 6 Twin Turbo in the BMW335i, is a world beater motor.Unbelievable power and torque from the bottom to the top. I drove one recently from Orlando, to Miami, and back. Super smooth, and you can hardly tell it's a twin turbo, no lag, and you can't hear them. I love my Z, but I want one.

 

How the VQ continues to make the top 10 list is beyond me. The VQ is one of the least smooth engines I have ever driven. Good torque, but not a good overall powerplant IMO.

Where are the Acura 3.5L's on the list. Those things are butter compared to the VQ.

 

Its not all about smoothness. If that was the case, the RX-8's rotary would definitely top this list.

 

Where in the world did you get that list. I strongly doubt anything Chrysler makes would even make that list. Chrysler reliablity is so bad right now, they can't even sell cars.

 

BMW's s54 engine will take the cake every time. That inline six is unbeatable and has been since the e46 first cameout. Concidering BMW puts their heart and soal into the M3 (there flagship car) .. we can all only imagine how the new v8 E92(the new m3) will turn out next year. I love my Nissan .. but theres no comparison.

 

Dont shoot the messenger:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/w...-engines-list/