Ward's Auto Announces the 10 Best Engines of the Year

The annual list of Ward's 10 Best Engines of the year has been released. The magazine's editors chose the winners after spending October and November driving 36 vehicles with 34 of those featuring new or significantly upgraded powerplants.

To be eligible to participate in the competition, Ward's states that "each engine must be available in a regular-production U.S.-specification model on sale no later than first-quarter 2012, in a vehicle with a base price below $55,000".

And the winners of this year's competition are:

• 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi A6)


• 2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (BMW Z4/528i)


• 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i coupe)


• 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Chrysler 300S/Jeep Wrangler)


• 2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4 (Ford Edge)


• 5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang Boss 302)


• 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Buick Regal GS)


• 1.6L DOHC I-4 (Hyundai Accent/Kia Soul)


• 2.0L Skyactiv DOHC I-4 (Mazda3)


• 3.5L DOHC V-6 HEV (Infiniti M35h)

The magazine's editors pointed out that seven out of this year's 10 Best Engines came equipped with direct fuel-injection technology.

"With so many engines featuring gasoline direct-injection and forced induction, we're pleased to have a list that is rich in technology," commented Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of WardsAuto World magazine. "Additionally, every engine reinforces the idea that even fuel-efficient vehicles must be fun to drive."

Notably, all 10 engines are gasoline units with no diesel or electric engines making the final cut. The only hybrid powerplant is the Infiniti M35h's V6 unit. Ford and BMW where the only companies to be represented twice in the list, while GM had only one engine, the Buick Regal GS's 2.0L turbo, as did Audi, Chrysler, Hyundai, Mazda and Infiniti.

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GM Says No to Saab's Latest Ownership Plan

A day without Saab announcement is a day thrown away. On Friday, Saab's operator, Swan NV, said that after GM’s denial of the Pang Da and Youngman cope, it was preparing another strategy, concerning Youngman and a China financial institution.

Unfortunately for Saab, this newest strategy, which put Pang Da out of the photograph, just didn't create the cut with Common Engines either. On Wednesday, GM spokesperson Wayne Cain released the following statement: “We have researched Saab’s offered changes regarding the purchase of the organization. Nothing in the offer changes GM’s location. We cannot assistance the purchase.”

The manager managing Saab’s rebuild requested Common Engines, which is still a case of preferential stocks in Saab and operator of much of its technological innovation, to carry on the certification contract after the purchase. However, the Detroit car maker said that its location would not modify.

According to Reuters, Remedial Vehicle CEO Winner Muller said in a word that "There is always Plan B”, though he dropped to offer more details.

Well, if it prevails, it will actually be Plan G or whatever by now – but who is counting?

 

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Cadillac Contemplates Diesel Engines for its New Models

Cadillac enjoy thanks to the resurgence of a number of good looking new models, which also promises to be much more competitive than their predecessors. Yet something is missing its European competitors in the luxury segment as BMW and Mercedes-Benz has already: diesel engines.

But this could change as soon as the interview during the Car Show in Los Angeles, Don Butler, Cadillac marketing director, said that GM's luxury division is considering the addition of a range of diesel engines.

"We absolutely believe it when we say we want to compete with the best of the best, without compromise," said Butler. "If it means making the right choice of powertrain, so it's the choice we have to do," he added.

Butler pointed out that now that Cadillac is considering offers from diesel engines sold outside North America, but quickly adds, "could be a possible protection in the United States, because the higher torque of the diesel engine, and a great performance with great efficiency. "

Not the first time Cadillac has tried to offer models with diesel engines. In late 1970, the Crown and Crest brand introduced a diesel V8 as an option in response to Mercedes-Benz.

But while GM V8 diesel has led to comply with CAFE 1978 (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards that were applied after the fuel crisis, the problems of reliability and constant many destroyed his image and established

Fortunately, GM has learned his lesson and will not repeat past mistakes. After all, its European Opel and Vauxhall divisions - even if it is bleeding money a lot of experience to share on this topic.

Story References: Autonews

 

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GM Will Not Hand Over The Technology Or The 9-4X Crossover For Saab Owners In China

Last Exclusive, GM spokesperson Jim Cain said that the business would "not be able to aid a modify in the possession of Saab which could badly result GM's established interactions in The far east or otherwise badly result GM's pursuits worldwide.”

Today, Common Engines has lastly ceased defeating around the plant and determined to come out in the start about the Saab-Pang Da-Youngman package. And what the Detroit-based car maker said is that it's not supplying away its Epsilon program technological innovation nor its 9-4X SUV.

“Although Common Engines is start to the extended deliver of powertrains and other elements to Saab under appropriate circumstances, GM will not accept the extension of the established technological innovation permit or the extended deliver of 9-4X autos to Saab following the recommended modify in possession, as it would not be in the best desire of GM investors,” Cain said in a report.

This indicates that Saab’s former operator, which still is a desire stakeholder and key business, has honestly compared with the The far east takeover and the move of GM technological innovation that it requires.

Saab lover website SaabsUnited called Cain, who further resolved GM’s position: “It’s about a modify of management in possession. When Saab was marketed to Spyker, we authored technological innovation permit, deliver legal agreements and other items and those were according to a marriage with your own strategic business strategy and our knowing of their technique and how they were going to be implementing perceptive home and the scientific research of a making a automobile that we’ve created over generations of time.”

Now that the The far east are considering getting over Saab, Cain says that the Spyker package is off. GM is prepared to discuss, but on new conditions.

“As you can see in our report, the matter of supplying elements and energy practice and other items to Saab is something we’d be start to carrying on under the right circumstances. But when you discuss the 9-4X and the technological innovation permit, that is something we have to deal with so properly because it possibly has an effect on us in areas all over the world. We need to be able to management our own technological innovation as a way to be profitable for the future.”

Saab’s present operator Remedial Car said with an recognized statement: “We have taken observe of a push report from Common Engines regarding the recommended sales to Pang Da Car and Youngman Car. We recognize the location taken by Common Engines, and will now discuss with Pang Da and Youngman to see whether a design can be arranged which is appropriate to all events worried.”

This properly indicates that Saab is rear again to block one or as its CEO, Winner Muller, put it, “we have to go rear again to the pulling board".

Story References: Autonews and SaabsUnited

 

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F1: Ecclestone Says No to Electric Engines in the Pit Lane

As you may have already heard, Formula 1’s regulations have been overhauled for the 2014 season with 1.6-liter turbocharged V6s replacing the current 2.4 V8s, while te new cars will also feature a new, more powerful Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS).

The whole concept behind FIA’s proposal is that F1 cannot stay behind the times that demand lower fuel consumption and an environmentally-friendly profile.

However, Bernie Ecclestone has discovered what he believes to be a serious flaw in the proposed regulations for 2014. Ecclestone says the article 5.19, which stipulates that cars must run on electric engines alone in the pit lane with no fuel whatsoever sprayed in the V6 gasoline engine, must be crossed out because “people could be killed”.

"Formula One is absolutely not the right place to have electric engine" Ecclestone told the Daily Express.

"It's like having ballet dancers with sneakers. More comfortable, but it doesn't work. There's no way that it will be electric in the pit lane. People could be killed because they won't hear the cars coming," he added.

Via ESPN

 

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Shelby builds 1000+ rwhp twin-turbo GT500 prototype

There’s so much going on at SEMA it’s all-too easy to miss a few things. And while there are a ton of Mustangs, one would think that this Shelby prototype would have caught our attention – particularly since we were aware of its existence. Back in September we reported that on some potential future Shelby models, one of which was a 1,000 rwhp twin-turbo GT500.

Nicknamed “Code Red,” this particular GT500 was created in collaboration between Shelby American and Nelson Racing Engines – the same firm responsible for the 1,800 horsepower Mosler MT900S. The heavily modified 5.4-liter V8 features twin 61mm Turbonetics turbochargers along with a dual fuel system that includes cells for both race and street gas as well as an electronic boost controller that can vary boost for each gear.

If Shelby offers a production of the “Code Red” GT500, expect plenty of other goodies to be included like Baer 14-inch brakes, Shelby/Eibach adjustable suspension system, 9-inch Currie rear end, 10-point roll cage, and plenty more? Price tag? Shelby estimates that the package (car not included) would cost around $100,000.

You can get a better look at the Code Red from the photos below courtesy of Nelson Racing Engines, and we’ve also included a video with Tom Nelson and Shelby’s Gary Patterson testing the car out on the streetafter the jump.

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