2013 Ward's 10 Best Engines Announced

The festive season is fast approaching in the West and, in automotive terms, that means the beginning of yet another season of 'awards'. And what better way to kick-off than listing down the 10 best engines? Ward's Auto has did just that and announced the 10 best engines of the year 2013. What's special about these awards is that, when most other publications are busy giving away titles like Car of the Year, Truck of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year and even Automotive Technology of the Year, Ward's Auto ensures that the best power-train in the automotive business are recognized year after year.

A surprising element in the 2013 list is that, for the first time in seven years, every engine in the list is powered by gasoline with none of the diesel, hybrid and all-electric power-train making the cut this time. It looks like gasoline powered Internal Combustion engines, with their ever-improving efficiency and refinement, aren't going to be threatened by alternate fuels anytime soon.

Speaking about this result that seem to go against the industry's trend of popularizing alternate fuels and propulsion systems, Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of WardsAuto World magazine said, "We're always excited to see the advancements being made in hybrids and all-electric vehicles. But there are still significant barriers for the average consumer to look past when considering these vehicles. The cost for most of them remains high, and the driving ranges of the battery electric vehicles will have to be extended to meet the needs of most people."

So, who are the winners? Ford has two entries in the list, with a whooping 3.8-liters being the difference in displacement between its two award-winning engines. BMW and Honda also take home two awards each, the latter's expertise in gasoline technology coming to the fore here. General Motors, Chrysler, Volkswagen Group (Audi) and Subaru garnered a place each in the list as well. Six of the ten engines in the list have managed to retain their spot from 2012, with the most note-worthy being Audi's 3.0-liter supercharged TFSI V6 engine that has managed to find a spot in the list for a fourth consecutive year.

The award-winning engines and the cars in which they were tested are listed below in no particular order:

* 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S5)
* 2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (BMW 328i)
* 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 135is Coupe)
* 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Ram 1500)
* 2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4 (Ford Focus ST/Taurus)
* 5.8L Supercharged DOHC V-8 (Ford Shelby GT500)
* 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Cadillac ATS)
* 2.4L DOHC I-4 (Honda Accord Sport)
* 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Honda Accord)
* 2.0L FA DOHC H-4 Boxer (Subaru BRZ)

As always, to be eligible for this award, each engine must be available in a regular production model in the USA, in a vehicle with a base price below $ 55000. Currently in its 19th year, the awards will follow the tradition of crowning the winners at a gala event in the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.