Who has the Best Engines for 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.

The awards will be given at a banquet in Detroit during next month’s North American International Auto Show.

Here’s Ward's 10 Best Engines for 2007 at a glance (vehicle tested in parenthesis):

* 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)


More after the jump:



Full 2006 LA Auto Show photos (click the link below)

2006 LA Auto Show Photo Gallery

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries


Read Article

M53R - 12/6/2006 8:54:56 AM

+5 Boost

wow ur soo smart! U sound stupid comparing a 3.0l engine to a 3.5l engine so shut it. btw i bet u on anything that if ToyLex tried to develop a 3.0 6 cylinder engine they, it wont b better than this 1

Homer008 - 12/6/2006 9:55:48 AM

-8 Boost

JakeKann:
"the BMW motor is so underpowered, unrefined and not as quiet or smooth as the Lexus V6."

This statement is not biased. It is true. Acura's V6 also stands out in refined and smoothness.

sheepdog

BMW530i - 12/6/2006 9:59:57 AM

+2 Boost

Keep trolling, Nicehomer. You and Jake seem to be the same person. Extremely biased Lexus fanboys.

AlexTx - 12/6/2006 10:03:42 AM

+5 Boost

Oh yeah?
And how's 420hp from a 4.2L V8 in the RS4?
100Hp per Liter.....
Enough said...
If you are going to put down a brand, at least know your facts.

EL34 - 12/6/2006 10:36:19 AM

+4 Boost

Quiet everyone, JakeKann needs a quiet motor.

Looks like JakeKann won't be buying a Ferrari, Porsche or Harley anytime soon.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/6/2006 5:43:48 PM

+1 Boost

"Inferior cars like Audi can only get 360 horsepower from a 4.2 V8. "

Audi made 420hp from the same engine, without supercharging it or turbocharging it, in the RS4! They could easily drop it into the next A8!

Willis - 12/6/2006 9:02:30 AM

+4 Boost

JakeKann,

Your post was the most pathetic excuse I've heard from a fanboy. Yes the Lexus V8 is a good engine, but the Ward editors have their own opinions and maybe they actually drive the cars first and then come up with conclusions. Something a brainwashed idiot like you doesn't seem capable of doing.

I don't usually say this, but people like you should jump off a cliff. Seriously.

Willis - 12/6/2006 9:03:40 AM

+5 Boost

Oh, and the BMW 3.0 6-cylinder is still a magnificent engine, no matter what your fanboy-mind might think.

AmazingBimmer - 12/6/2006 9:15:55 AM

-1 Boost

this is accurate. .Isnt audi's A3 engine made by vw?.

AlexTx - 12/6/2006 10:04:55 AM

+5 Boost

The 3.2 only.
The 2.0T and any TDI is Audi.

Ventura - 12/6/2006 11:18:51 AM

+1 Boost

Wrong, the 2.0T was first launched in Golf GTI and VW has way more variations of TDI's than Audi!!!

Heyhuub - 12/6/2006 11:50:12 AM

+1 Boost

@ Ventura

You are wrong actually, it was first launched in the Audi A3 actually in late 2003, before the Golf GTI was launched.

Ventura - 12/6/2006 12:13:48 PM

+2 Boost

A re you sure heyhuub, if yes just show me where you saw that!!
the 2.0 fsi was launched in the end of 2003 but the 2.0 tfsi (the one that we are speaking about) i'm quite sure that was later than GTI!!

Heyhuub - 12/6/2006 5:07:34 PM

-1 Boost

@Ventura

I'm talking about Europe, don't really know about the situation in the US.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/6/2006 5:45:04 PM

-1 Boost

Even if it was, does the badge matter at ALL?

The 2.0T engine is fabulous!

It deserves its SECOND WIN IN A ROW.

aarononymous - 12/6/2006 9:50:25 PM

+3 Boost

VW made aircooled engines, that is why they bought Audi. It's an Audi engine.

valentino - 12/6/2006 10:05:07 AM

-2 Boost

Is there anyone who can explain why you americans are so hot for BMW?? I mean, I'm from Europe and i'm 20 years old. When I read the posts on autospies, I can't help but notice the hardcore love for bmw.
I mean most youngsters here would like a Lexus or Infinity (wich doesn't exist in europe!!!) somuch more than the 3er because everyone got one. No one turns their head for a Bmw here especially the x5 wich is seen more here then american muscle cars in the us!!

p.s. If you americans really want to show off with I don't know what y'all want but buy a mercedes or Audi.
forget Bmw.
My neighbour got a BMW M5 and when it was 3 months old he traded it in for a CLS AMG ;-)

peace

Willis - 12/6/2006 10:34:31 AM

+5 Boost

Infiniti is sold in Russia, and Lexus are sold in Europe.

However, I can't believe that most youngsters in Europe want those two brands. Infiniti is almost unknown over in Europe, I would think, and Lexus lacks the appeal because they have not conformed to European tastes and demand.

And people here like BMW's because they're a sporty brand. When you're young and athletic, a BMW is the car that appeals to you. It also has a lot to do with image.

audiot - 12/6/2006 11:42:02 AM

+3 Boost

Please save us from more Europeans gracing us with their knowledge of how everyone's smarter there.

99gs400 - 12/6/2006 10:20:02 AM

-5 Boost

The list looks pretty good except for 1 , why is the Ford Mustang 4.6L SOHC crap out of date in it ?

physician - 12/6/2006 10:42:37 AM

+3 Boost

Did nobody realize that for obvious reasons JakeKann is talking out of his ass. If you check his first post he rates the Audi V8 at 360hp. IT'S WRONG MORON. Even though this fact wont make the Audi look better but it's actually 350hp.

Heyhuub - 12/6/2006 11:53:47 AM

+2 Boost

Jake you idiot, what about the 4.2 in the RS4 then? That one makes 420HP, i don't know of any Lexus engine with 100hp/L N/A.

chewy - 12/6/2006 10:45:37 AM

+4 Boost

The RS4 engine didn't make it because the RS4 is more than 54,000.

The VW/Audi 2.0 T FSI did because it is an excellent engine.

chewy - 12/6/2006 10:47:29 AM

+5 Boost

The Lexus is also over 54,000 so it can't qualify for the competition.

kart1 - 12/6/2006 1:13:37 PM

-4 Boost

I don't know about the duratech 3.5l engine being on the list. I mean the Infiniti engine makes more power, etc. yet the duratech makes the cut???

kart1 - 12/6/2006 1:14:50 PM

-3 Boost

Why does the 3.5L duratech make the list.

Gernby - 12/6/2006 2:10:17 PM

+4 Boost

I'm surprised the nissan 3.5 is on the list. It may have high HP ratings at the crank, but it doesn't seem to put much to the wheels. I recently dyno'ed my '06 Lexus IS350, and it put down 278 RWHP. I got copies of all the 350Z and G35 dyno files they had for comparison, and they were all putting down mid 230s.

mstangpny07 - 12/6/2006 5:53:19 PM

+1 Boost

the 350 and the G35 have different engines currently.
The Z will get the g35's 306 hp engine later this year.

SteveL - 12/6/2006 2:58:07 PM

+2 Boost

This is a bought award you can easily tell. Some of the engines are worth it but anybody who actualy works on motors and is up to date knows that this is just a marketing ploy. Yea for money!

Jay7 - 12/6/2006 5:24:13 PM

-2 Boost

Nissan Motor Co. has always been the leader and trend setter. Every engine that has went into the Maxima, going back to the early '90s has been reengineered by other companies hoping to stay up to par with Nissan.

Even the big boys have resorted to copying Nissan. Mercedes, BMW, Lexus. Nissan was the first to get 255hp out of 3.5L. Others could barely get 205hp out of 3.5L I must say that Audi, has done their own research but seems to come up short. Maybe they should get on board.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/6/2006 5:48:31 PM

+1 Boost

The 3.6L in the Q7 has 280hp and is rumored to have about 300hp in the new A4.

The 2.0T has 100hp/cylinder.

The 4.2 in the RS4 has 100hp/cylinder.

BMW530i - 12/6/2006 7:21:22 PM

+1 Boost

Nissan Motor Co. has always been the leader and trend setter. Every engine that has went into the Maxima, going back to the early '90s has been reengineered by other companies hoping to stay up to par with Nissan.

Even the big boys have resorted to copying Nissan. Mercedes, BMW, Lexus. Nissan was the first to get 255hp out of 3.5L. Others could barely get 205hp out of 3.5L I must say that Audi, has done their own research but seems to come up short. Maybe they should get on board.
============================================

This post is so lame, I don't know what to say.

When other car companies increase engine power, it's called COPYING all of a sudden? Give me a break, it's called COMPETITION.

Jay7 - 12/7/2006 7:06:43 PM

+1 Boost

I guess I should admit that Audi has caught up, but what have they done that is revolutionary or leading. 300hp in the new A4 isn't as impressive now as it would have been a year or two ago. It's almost a sign of weakness for a 40-45k sport sedan not to have 300hp. Name a sports sedan under 25k (base price) other than the Nissan Altima that gets 270hp or more.

It's not all about hp per cylinder. How about hp per dollar.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/6/2006 11:30:40 PM

+2 Boost

That counts, I'm sorry to tell you.

racer_65 - 12/7/2006 1:34:07 AM

+2 Boost

Wait til the next generation Porsche Cayenne comes out with the Turbo Charged Direct Fuel Injected V8 producing 500 horsepower.

sold2early - 12/7/2006 11:32:10 AM

0 Boost

Motor Trend was not impressed by the Ford 3.5 in the Edge; said it did not like to rev.

BM3W - 12/7/2006 1:24:18 PM

+3 Boost

The BMW AG 3L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i) will take home the oscar in 2007. In a very close second will be the Audi AG 2L turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3) and BMW AG 3L DOHC I-6 (Z4 3.0si)

pchera01 - 12/7/2006 2:04:19 PM

+3 Boost

3.5L VQ again??? good for them

AdmiralT20 - 12/7/2006 3:11:26 PM

+2 Boost

In my opinion, I will give it to the Audi AG 2L turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
It has the most HP & TQ per litre. The HP/TQ ratio is also an impressive 0.97, and it achieves peak torque at 1800 rpm.

The next will be the * BMW AG 3L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i) for the balance on the HP & TQ/litre numbers, it has a HP/TQ ratio of 1, and achieves a peak torqe at 1300 rpm.

The next on my list will be * DaimlerChrysler AG 3L DOHC V-6 turbodiesel (Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec/Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD). The HP/litre numbers are not that great but considering the fact that it is Diesel, makes we pick it as it compensates that with a high TQ/litre number. Of course that also skews the HP/TQ ratio but it is a diesel so that is expected. It achieves peakt torque at 1600 rpm

The next is the * Toyota Motor Corp. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
Good TQ & HP/litre numbers, with a HP/TQ ratio of 1.10 and a peak TQ at 4800 rpm.

The next pick will be the * Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35) which is pretty close to the Toyota's engine.

The next is the * DaimlerChrysler AG Hemi 5.7L OHV V-8 (Chrysler 300C).

Next is the * BMW AG 3L DOHC I-6 (Z4 3.0si)

* Ford Motor Co. 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang GT/Mustang Shelby GT)

* Mazda Motor Corp. 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed3)

* Ford Motor Co. Duratec 35 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX)

AdmiralT20 - 12/7/2006 3:14:06 PM

+1 Boost

These were based on limited information, of course it would be nice if Know where their respective redlines at my finger tips but that is too much work for me.