Ward’s Announces 2009 10 Best Engines Winners

Eh, some of these are a little boring and not deserved. Do we really need GM, Honda and Toyota V6s of the same size on this list?

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 1:51:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

the hemi?

— gules (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 3:35:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Chuck could it be the other way around...if the VQ didn't make this list, it could be a lesser engine? Jus kidding, I've always liked Nissans especially the Maxima until the last generation.

— BlakuraTLS (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 7:59:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Chuck, its time for Nissan VQ engine to improve on efficiency on VQ, insted of gaining more fat(displacement)

— pchera01 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 11:47:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

No AMG's 6.3 engine?

— 528i (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 5:02:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

the Chrysler/Dodge 5.7 liter is definitely the most "broke" considering its 345hp output and terrible platforms. the winner is the 3.0 liter twin turbo BMW putting out 300hp. closely following... the genesis V-8 4.6 and the 375hp with a NEW and decent layout...

— cl0wn (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 7:11:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

* Audi AG: 2.0L TFSI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (A4 Avant)
-variable valve timing on intake and exhaust, turbocharged, direct injected, deserves to be on the list.
* BMW AG: 3.0L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (135i Coupe)
-fully variable valve timing on intake and exhaust, twin turbocharged, direct injected, deserves to be on the list
* BMW AG: 3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel (335d)
-fully variable valve timing on intake and exhaust, twin sequential turbocharged, generation 4 common rail direct injection, deserves to be on list (arguably the most advanced engine here)
* Chrysler LLC: 5.7L Hemi OHV V-8 (Dodge Ram/Challenger R/T)
-no idea why this thing is on the list
* Ford Motor Co.: 2.5L DOHC I-4 HEV (Escape Hybrid)
-no idea why this thing is on the list
* General Motors Corp.: 3.6L DOHC V-6 (Cadillac CTS)
-variable valve timing on intake and exhaust, direct injected, significant innovations to lighten the block, deserves to be on list
* Honda Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Accord Coupe)
-displacement on demand, deserves to be on list
* Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.: 4.6L DOHC V-8 (Genesis)
-nothing innovative, doesn't deserve to be on list
* Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
-variable valve timing on intake and exhaust, direct and port injected, deserves to be on list
* Volkswagen AG: 2.0L SOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Jetta TDI)
-variable valve timing on intake and exhaust, turbocharged, gen 4 common rail direct injection, advanced LNT exhaust treatment, deserves to be on list.

IMO, the AMG 6.3 should definitely be on there (low friction coatings inside the engine), the VW twin-charger engine should be on there (super and turbo charged), and the Prius' engine should be on there (atkinson cycle), and the engine from the 997 GT2 should be on there (twin VGT turbocharged, intake passage allows for gasses to expand and cool prior to compression which allows for a higher CR, also vvt on intake and exhaust, direct injected)

IMO, the most sophisticated engine on the list is BMW's twin turbo diesel.

— GreenPlease (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 9:16:22 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 12   

mmm Or, VQ35 outputting 306hp. What happend to VQ this year lol it had won every year for how ever many years this award was presented lol

and what is with the hemi, they determine the engine by the noise level, vibration etc, they are saying the hemi dosnt vibrate and gives off minimum noise? please, some one put wards on a payroll lol and in process made them selves poor and now asking for 30 something billion to bailout :)

— Kiriller (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 9:18:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

The VQ is good on paper and has power but might be reaching the outer limits on refinement - I heard it can be a little rough up top, especially compared to Honda V6 engines....

— IhavearedS2000 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 9:55:37 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

List seems a little off, but guess everyone has different standards of what makes a good engine.

— PerformanceGuy (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 11:19:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

There had to be a price point. There are some other amazing engines out there that deserve to be on that list... I mean, the Hemi? really?

— adamsaf723 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 12:29:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

People want to compare the VQ with the RB but they don't no one thing about those engine's.

The new VQ37VHR is ten time's better than the Neo RB25DET. The VQ make's more power and torque and had better fuel economy.

And the new VR38 is also better than the RB26!

— STJ88 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 2:01:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Let's see, who did their homework. Why not the Hemi? Like the Honda V6, it has displacement on demand plus...

Variable cam timing was introduced for the 2009 model year, increasing efficiency. Other changes include a higher compression ratio; higher-flowing heads, intake, and exhaust; and an active intake manifold that switches from long runners to short runners, to optimize the engine for either better high-end horsepower or better low-end torque. The Hemi features cylinder DEACTIVATION in the 300C and Magnum R/T; the "Multi Displacement System" (MDS) turns off the fuel consumption in four cylinders when V-8 power is not needed (note that is 40% of the time the vehicle is running).
This provides a world class combination of performance and fuel economy, without the driver noticing any difference. The MDS system has, according to Chrysler, saved nearly 100 million gallons of gasoline since 2005, and reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by close to a million metric tons.
Full combustion results in heat, water, and carbon dioxide. While a very small amount of NOx emissions are produced, they are only significant during incomplete or partial combustion, due to the lack of available oxygen, high temperatures, and various chemical reactions.
That's why catalytic converters have been standard on cars for the past 3 decades. The extra set of spark plugs on the HEMI and on previous engines are designed to reduce emissions BEFORE a catalyst is needed.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 2:07:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I'll take the 5.7 Toyota over the 5.7 Hemi any day.

— krackerhatesme (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 2:21:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The Hyundai V8 Tau engine: delivers an estimated 368 horsepower.

Unlike many competitors and most premium sedans, it achieves this impressive power output using regular unleaded fuel.

This powertrain combination will launch Genesis to 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds.

The Tau produces more horsepower and torque than the powerplants found in Lexus GS450, BMW 750i, Audi A8 and Infiniti M45 and has more horsepower per liter than any of its V8 competitors.

The Tau engine is built with flexibility for the future. Future Tau variants may offer larger displacement, forced induction options and other technology enhancements.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 2:44:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Edmunds BMW 335i vs. 2008 Infiniti G37 comparison

"But you'd forgive this (335i's) twin-turbo, direct-injected 3.0-liter six almost anything and not just because of its impressive ratings of 300 hp at 5,800 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque at an incredibly modest 1,400 rpm. Rather, it's that numerical potency combined with the engine's extreme tractability. This turbo inline-6 is smoother than the G37's V6. And as free-revving as the Nissan VQ V6 is, this twin-turbo six likes to rev even more."

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=121462?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 3:15:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

stop this 335i vs g37 nonsense. I assume people who are spending 40-55k on either of these test-drove both. If you have, you would know that 335-value=g37 ;)

if you want the best under 55k, get the 335i. if you want a FAR better value, i.e. 95% of the performance and refinement at 75-80% of the price, get the g37.

— rumnyc (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 6:02:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Cant say Im sad to see nissan's WAY overrated vq finally dropped. I never thought it belonged there anyway, since I see nothing impressive about it. Rough, sounds awful, drinks gas (the ones not attached to the CVT), numbers don't back up HP rating.....
Good riddance; glad to see more deserving choices on the list.

— tattedtwice (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 8:27:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

The Nissan VQ does not make the list because it's inefficient. I Have the infiniti G35 and get 12mpg in city and 20mpg on hwy.

— bluedart (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 11:15:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

love my BMW 3.0 liter twin turbo inline 6. wonderfully versatile engine. broad torque band. tons of fun.

deserves to be on list. no question.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2008 11:49:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

VQ isn't on there because 8 year old VQ's are starting to show there limitations. Old VQ's cannot be driven hard anymore, bogging or can't reach redline or just fear of something going wrong, the good 3.0 V6 was the Toyota & it shows w/ both of my V6 MT Camrys ('93 w/ 3xx,xxx miles) ('00 w/ over 15x,xxx miles) they can be driven hard & redlined w/o worries. Visit Maxima,org lotta problems w/ older Vq's

— StickShiftCamry (View Profile)

Posted on 12/9/2008 10:18:38 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0