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| Wards 10 Best Engines | |
|---|---|
| Name | Wards 10 Best Engines |
| Awarded for | Recognition of outstanding internal combustion and hybrid powertrains |
| Presenter | Wards Auto |
| Country | United States |
| First award | 1994 |
| Website | WardsAuto |
Wards 10 Best Engines
Wards 10 Best Engines is a year-by-year recognition program established by Wards Auto that identified ten outstanding internal combustion, hybrid, and electrified powertrains in the North American market. The list influenced buyers, manufacturers, and suppliers including General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Co., and Chrysler LLC while intersecting with events such as the North American International Auto Show, Los Angeles Auto Show, and New York International Auto Show. The program ran parallel to other industry awards like the Motor Trend Car of the Year and North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year.
Wards 10 Best Engines was curated by editors and engineers at Wards Auto, drawing on expertise from journalists associated with outlets such as Automotive News, Car and Driver, Road & Track, Motor Trend, and Popular Mechanics. Winners included powertrains from manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche AG, Nissan Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Subaru Corporation, and Volkswagen Group. The program highlighted advances aligned with suppliers and partners such as Bosch (company), Denso Corporation, Continental AG, Magna International, and Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.. Its selections often reflected technologies promoted at conferences like the Society of Automotive Engineers and Consumer Electronics Show.
Wards Auto applied technical evaluation criteria informed by standards from professional bodies like SAE International and datasets from agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency for fuel economy and emissions. Testing protocols referenced engineering approaches used by Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and research published through IEEE conferences. Candidate powertrains were assessed for attributes emphasized by manufacturers and regulators, with inputs from suppliers including ZF Friedrichshafen AG and Cummins Inc.; editorial evaluation incorporated instrumentation techniques used by outlets like J.D. Power and analytics from IHS Markit. The methodology balanced measurable metrics with drive impressions gathered at proving grounds such as General Motors Proving Ground and tracks associated with Laguna Seca Raceway.
Each annual list tracked engines across segments represented at auto shows and sales regions anchored by organizations like Alliance for Automotive Innovation and regional dealers affiliated with National Automobile Dealers Association. Winners ranged from compact engines used in Honda Civic iterations to high-displacement units in Ford F-Series applications and electrified systems in models from Tesla, Inc. and Chevrolet. Notable model associations included powertrains in Mazda MX-5 Miata, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Porsche 911, Toyota Prius, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Soul, Subaru Outback, and Nissan Altima. Each year’s list reflected industry shifts influenced by policy actions such as standards promulgated by the California Air Resources Board and trade developments involving organizations like the World Trade Organization.
Highlighted powertrains showcased innovations such as turbocharging strategies used by BMW M GmbH and Audi Sport, variable valve timing systems pioneered by Honda R&D Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, and direct injection technologies developed by firms like Bosch (company and Denso Corporation. Cylinder deactivation and cylinder on demand systems were employed by teams at General Motors and Chrysler LLC; lightweight materials and thermal management advances were contributed by suppliers including ArcelorMittal and Novelis. Hybrid systems combined electric drive components from Panasonic Corporation and inverter technology from Infineon Technologies, while small-displacement high-efficiency engines reflected calibration work done at facilities such as Saab Automobile AB and Renault SA. Racing-derived technologies filtered in from programs run by Porsche Motorsport, Factory Honda Racing Corporation, and Ford Performance.
Recognition by Wards Auto affected brand strategy at companies like Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Stellantis NV and influenced procurement decisions at tier-one suppliers including Magneti Marelli and IHI Corporation. Awards were cited in marketing by manufacturers such as Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti, and used in investor communications by corporations including Toyota Motor Corporation. The accolade contributed to talent attraction at research centers operated by MIT Media Lab collaborators and university partnerships with institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, and Stanford University. Policy discussions at bodies like the U.S. Department of Energy and European Commission referenced technological trajectories exemplified by the awardees.
Critics from outlets including Consumer Reports, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg L.P., and Reuters questioned transparency, potential industry influence from advertisers such as Autodesk and SAP SE, and the relevance of assessing internal combustion engines during rapid electrification led by Tesla, Inc. and battery makers like LG Chem. Controversies involved debates over criteria weighting, comparisons between turbocharged small-displacement engines and naturally aspirated units from manufacturers such as Toyota and Mazda Motor Corporation, and calls for greater visibility from academic reviewers at Imperial College London and ETH Zurich. Some advocacy groups and regulators including Union of Concerned Scientists and International Energy Agency argued the program should prioritize efficiency and lifecycle emissions aligned with international agreements like the Paris Agreement.
Category:Automotive awards