The 10 best engines of 2012
From a sophisticated four-cylinder motor to the world’s most powerful production V-8, the winners are a diverse bunch, says
EVERY YEAR, car industry publisher Ward’s Auto lists its top 10 engines. Last year’s winners are:
3.0- litre TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi).
2.0- litre N20 DOHC I-4 (BMW).
3.0-litre Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW).
Turbocharged
3.6- litre (Chrysler).
2.0- litre (Ford).
5.8-litre Supercharged DOHC V-8 (Ford).
2.0-litre Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Cadillac).
2.4-litre DOHC I-4 (Honda).
Pentastar
EcoBoost
DOHC
DOHC
V- 6
I- 4 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Honda). 2.0- litre FA DOHC H- 4 (Subaru/Toyota).
Boxer Audi’s 3.0- litre supercharged V-6 makes the list for the fourth successive time, while BMW secures two repeat wins, with its 2.0-litre turbocharged four and 3.0- litre turbocharged inline-six.
Another 2.0-litre direct-injected turbocharged four that scored well was the Cadillac ATS, which may well be made a sports option in Holden’s upcoming Malibu midsized sedan.
Ford scored with its EcoBoost 2.0-litre four, which is used in its Focus, Fusion, Mondeo, C- Max, Explorer and Edge models and in the Australian-built Falcon and in Mercury and Lincoln cars. goes into various Jaguar, Rover and Volvo models.
Ford also came up trumps with the supercharged 5.8-litre Coyote It also Range engine used in the Mustang GT500, while Honda returns to the 10 Best Engines list with its 2.4-litre four that we have in our Euro Accord and the 3.5-litre port-injection V-6 with cylinder deactivation.
Another outstanding portinjection V- 6, Chrysler’s 3.6- litre Pentastar is listed. It’s available here in the Dodge Journey, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler and Chrysler 300, transforming each.
Rounding out the list is the 2.0-litre flat-four or boxer engine used in the Subaru BRZ coupe and its Toyota 86 partner clone.
Subaru gets credit for the engine. Toyota, however, assisted by providing the fuelling system that integrates port and direct-injection for each combustion chamber.
The winner of the best engine title will be chosen in time for the Geneva Motor Show in March.
In the meantime, our DriveTimes choice is the Ford EcoBoost four. Not only does it create the best Falcon we have ever driven, but it is also used in a huge number of front, rear and all-wheel-drive cars made by other companies as well as its producer, Ford.