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Wednesday January 2, 2008
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There's an award for just about everything these days. One that makes more and more sense is for high-technology engines. Ward's AutoWorld magazine has been doing it for 14 years. The 2008 winners were chosen with an eye toward efficiency. Four of the 10 are turbocharged, one is a diesel, and one is a hybrid. Only two are V-8s and one of them is the hybrid (from GM). Here are the 2008 winners (and the car the engines were tested in):
-- Audi AG: FSI 2.0L turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
-- BMW AG: 3.0L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i Coupe)
-- Daimler AG: 3.0L DOHC V-6 Turbodiesel (Mercedes E320 CDI)
-- Ford Motor Co.: 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang Shelby GT/Bullitt)
-- General Motors Corp.: 3.6L DOHC V-6 (Cadillac CTS)
-- General Motors Corp.: 6.0L OHV V-8 Hybrid (GMC Yukon Hybrid)
-- Honda Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Accord Coupe)
-- Mazda Motor Corp.: 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed3)
-- Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.7L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G37) (photo above)
-- Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
We've driven most of the engines and like them all. Five are V-6 designs that allow for compact packaging, although the design isn't as smooth as a V-8 or BMW's twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine. The Infiniti V-6 has now won for 14 straight years, since the list began in 1995. Audi's turbocharged four has great acceleration though it takes a moment for the car to get rolling from a standstill. The Mercedes diesel has excellent torque, the power that gets you going in a hurry. And the dual-mode Yukon hybrid is impressive for its ability return about 22 mpg in highway drive.
Posted By:
Bill Howard
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