BMW N20 and N55 makes it to Ward’s 10 Best Engines List

Wards Auto, an Auto data, auto news and analysis for the worldwide providers of cars and trucks, has just released heir 2011 10 Best Engines list. As expected, BMW is again well represented. Both the new four-cylinder 2.0 liter turbocharged N20 engine and the 3.0 liter twin-scroll N55 powerplant made the list.

In Ward’s 10 Best Engines, latest powertrain technologies were judged based on its affordability to most consumers, horsepower boost and torque, appealing sound and good integration to the vehicles they are used in .

Seven out of the ten engines that made it to the list feature a state-of-the-art direct fuel injection that allows for an engine downsize and meeting strict fuel-economy rules. The direct injection technology helps improve fuel efficiency while providing quick acceleration and high torque at low rpms.

Here are the reasons why Ward has chosen the BMW engines to be a part of the list:

BMW returns to the list for a second time with the N55 3.0L turbocharged 6-cyl. engine in the 335i coupe, an engine that perfectly illustrates the superior balance and refinement of inline engines and the Bavarian auto maker’s mastery of the architecture’s execution.

With 300 hp and 300 lb.-ft. (407 Nm) of torque, this engine manages better than 25 mpg (9.4 L/100 km) during heavy-footed evaluation by WardsAuto editors in October.

New to the winner’s circle is BMW’s 2.0L N20 turbocharged 4-cyl. engine that dazzles editors in both the Z4 sDrive 28i roadster and larger 528i sedan. With 258 lb.-ft. (350 Nm) of torque in the Z4 and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) in the 5-Series, this stout, compact powertrain packs an impressive 120 hp/L, without sacrificing any of BMW’s stellar vehicle dynamics.

Here is the list of winners and the applications tested:

3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi A6)
2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (BMW Z4/528i)
3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i coupe)
3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Chrysler 300S/Jeep Wrangler)
2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4 (Ford Edge)
5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang Boss 302)
2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Buick Regal GS)
1.6L DOHC I-4 (Hyundai Accent/Kia Soul)
2.0L Skyactiv DOHC I-4 (Mazda3)
3.5L DOHC V-6 HEV (Infiniti M35h)

Source: Ward’s