Competition Reinforces Downsizing

The 2009 Pool of Engines Being Evaluated in Ward's 10 Best Engines competition reflects a global industry that recognizes conspicuous consumption of petroleum must stop.

For proof, let's go back a decade — when the SUV craze was in full swing — to see what new powertrains had arrived in the U.S. for the '99 model year.

This comparison is worthwhile because the annual 10 Best Engines competition, since it began in 1995, has focused on powertrains that are new or significantly improved. The previous year's winners round out the nominee list. There are no segments, so I-4s slug it out with V-8s and V-6s.

In 1999, however, 4-cyl. engines did little slugging at all. Of 31 engines evaluated, only six were 4-bangers, and only three of those were normally aspirated (and one of those was in the mid-engine Porsche Boxster). As for the rest, 16 engines were of the 6-cyl. variety, while nine were V-8s.

Not a single 4-cyl. engine made the 1999 winners' list, which consisted of four V-8s and six 6-cyl. engines.

This year, Ward's is evaluating 13 4-bangers, 11 6-cyl. engines and only four V-8s. Two of those V-8s are arrayed as hybrids.

What a difference a decade makes.

This year's list of nominees reinforces the trend toward downsized engines. A number of normally aspirated premium gasoline V-6s — some using direct injection — are much more powerful than the V-8s of only a decade ago.

At the lower end, turbocharged 4-bangers have taken the place of V-6s. Of the 13 4-cyl. engines being considered this year, five are turbocharged.

Take Mazda Motor Corp.'s direct-injection 2.3L turbocharged I-4, which manages a stout 263 hp and 280 lb.-ft. (380 Nm) of torque in the feisty Mazdaspeed3.

The engine has won three 10 Best Engines awards and easily trumps all 16 V-6s evaluated in 1999, including more expensive entries from BMW AG and Mercedes-Benz. The Mazda engine also produces more horsepower than three V-8s evaluated in 1999.

This year, Ward's judges are driving the most fuel-efficient batch of test vehicles ever assembled for the competition.

Three of the vehicles, from BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen AG, are diesel-powered and capable of major fuel-economy gains, while meeting strict emissions targets in all 50 states.

Also, three new hybrid-electric vehicles are being considered, along with the GMC Yukon 2-Mode, a returning winner.

Judges evaluate each engine based on their daily driving cycles in October and November. Points are awarded for horsepower, torque, refinement, fuel efficiency and the application of new technology. Vehicle price is capped at $54,000.

Ward's 10 Best Engines 2008
http://wardsauto.com/reports/2008/tenbest