Ward's 10 Best Engines of 2014 Announced

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Penton's WardsAuto has named three diesels, a tiny 3-cyl. turbo and a battery-electric vehicle to its annual 2014 Ward's 10 Best Engines, illustrating the importance of fuel economy as automakers develop and market advanced new powertrains.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131212/CL32190 )

This is the 20th year for Ward's 10 Best Engines, a competition created to recognize outstanding powertrain achievement, world-class technologies and those rare engines or electric propulsion systems that are so compelling they help sell the vehicle.

The winners, which include eight engines using direct fuel injection and six with forced induction, emerged from a field of 44 powertrains evaluated by WardsAuto editors in October and November.  To be eligible, a new or significantly improved engine or propulsion system must be on sale in a production vehicle during the first quarter of 2014. Base price is capped at $60,000, up from $55,000 last year.

The Ward's 10 Best Engines competition pits the latest engines available in the U.S. market against the returning winners from the previous year. Usually, at least four engines that won the prior year return to the winner's circle. This year, only two are returning winners: Honda's 3.5L V-6 and Audi's 3.0L supercharged V-6.

"We weren't looking to throw the bums out, as they might say about an election. We were just really impressed with a flood of new powertrains," says WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. "What was great yesterday might be less impressive tomorrow because engine technology is changing so rapidly."

The 20^th annual Ward's 10 Best Engines (and the vehicles tested) are:

• 3.0L Supercharged DOHC V-6 - Audi AG (Audi S5)
• 3.0L Turbodiesel DOHC I-6 - BMW AG (BMW 535d)
• 6.2L OHV V-8 - General Motors Co. (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray)
• 2.0L Turbodiesel DOHC I-4 - General Motors Co. (Chevrolet Cruze Diesel)
• 83-kW Electric Motor – Chrysler Group LLC (Fiat 500e EV)
• 1.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-3 - Ford Motor Co. (Ford Fiesta)
• 3.5L SOHC V-6 - Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (Honda Accord)
• 2.7L DOHC H-6 - Porsche AG (Porsche Cayman)
• 3.0L Turbodiesel DOHC V-6 - Chrysler Group LLC (Ram 1500)
• 1.8L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 - Volkswagen AG (Volkswagen Jetta)

Since 1995, WardsAuto editors have chosen their Ward's 10 Best Engines winners after spending the fall testing all eligible engines in their routine daily commutes around metro Detroit. Engines are scored based on power, technology, observed fuel economy and noise, vibration and harshness characteristics. There is no instrumented testing.

A story about the 10 winning engines posted today on WardsAuto.com. In early January, WardsAuto.com and WardsAuto World digital magazine will include additional commentary and full profiles of the winning engines. Awards will be presented to winning auto makers in a ceremony on January 15, 2014, during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

About WardsAuto

WardsAuto is a world-leading provider of auto industry news, data and analysis, having served the industry's information needs for more than 85 years. WardsAuto World is a monthly magazine serving automotive professionals around the world. The twice-monthly newsletter WardsAuto Engine & Technology Update provides analysis of engineering advancements and technical issues. WardsAuto.com is an online subscription service delivering all the industry news, data and analysis compiled by WardsAuto. A Southfield, MI-based division of Penton Inc., WardsAuto also publishes the weekly industry newsletter Ward's Automotive Reports, the digital tablet magazine WardsAuto Dealer Business, and offers a wealth of other automotive information services including reference annuals, online databases, and customized data reports.

About Penton, Inc.

For millions of business owners and decision-makers, Penton makes the difference every day. We engage our professional users by providing actionable ideas and insights, data and workflow tools, community and networking, both in person and virtually, all with deep relevance to their specific industries. We then activate this engagement by connecting users with tens of thousands of targeted providers of products and services to help drive business growth. Learn more about our company at www.penton.com.

Penton is a privately held company owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP.

MEDIA CONTACTS:         

Chris Lamphear
Director of Marketing
Penton Transportation Group
Phone: 248 799 2658
Email: [email protected]

Kate Spellman
SVP, Marketing
Penton
Phone: 212 204 4351
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Penton