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Ward's Automotive Ten Best Engines of 2014 dominated by diesels, turbos

With the Car and Driver Ten Best decided, the North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announced and Cadillac, Ram and Subaru chalking up wins with Motor Trend, it's fair to say that the automotive awards season is in full swing. The next set of trophies to be handed out will be from Ward's Automotive, which has announced the winners of its 2014 10 Best Engines.
The latest contest was marked by the widespread emergence of diesel power and the continued success of turbocharged engines. There was even an electric motor on this year's list. In fact, only three of the ten winners were naturally aspirated and only two winners returned from last year.
"We weren't looking to throw the bums out, as they might say about an election. We were just really impressed with the flood of new powertrains," said Ward's Automotive Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. Those new powertrains include the 83-kilowatt electric motor from the Fiat 500e, the 1.0-liter, EcoBoost three-cylinder from the Ford Fiesta and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel from the Chevrolet Cruze.

2016 Honda HR-V: The first three months with our jack of all trades

We only had the long-term 2016 Honda HR-V in our fleet for one week, and for me, the do-anything crossover was immediately useful. Its honeymoon phase coincided with a number of long-haul drives, plus I had to move. This ambitious start is why we're a quarter of the way through our long-term test, and the HR-V already has over 6,000 miles on the odometer. In classic suburban chariot style, the HR-V is a jack of all trades. And when it comes to road trips, the HR-V is just as enjoyable while slogging up flat interstates as it is along beautiful country roads. I've driven it in all types of weather, packed it with people, and filled it with cargo. I've spent more time in our long-term Honda than pretty much any car that came before it. Here's what I've learned. Long Hauls I've driven the HR-V from my home in Detroit to my sister's place in Traverse City, MI – a 500-mile round trip – four times. On one occasion, an early winter blast hit northern Michigan on my way to the cute, beachside tourist town. From intense fog and rain to sunshine to a sudden snow squall, I had every one of the elements thrown directly at me over the course of one drive. I find a lot of the HR-V's onboard safety technology distracting, and I worry that drivers can become too reliant on these features. Blind spot alerts and cameras are designed to make us safer, yes, but they're no replacement for an attentive, engaged driver. For instance, in the rain and sleet, the nifty Honda Lane Watch camera displayed only gray blobs. Ditto on the back-up camera, meaning that while the technology technically functioned as advertised, the weather rendered it useless. The HR-V has a solid suite of safety tech, but you don't have to rely on the cameras and bells and whistles. The driver's side mirror has an extended-view distortion to the glass. Visibility is great. The HR-V was a champ in the gross weather, and I was thankful for our mid-level EX trim's all-wheel drive. And this was even before we fitted the HR-V with a set of Michelin X-Ice 215/55R17 winter tires – expect to hear about those when we actually get some more snow here in Detroit. Optioning all-wheel drive means you're stuck with the continuously variable transmission (a manual is available with front-drive), which isn't great, but it smoothly delivers the engine's 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque. Editor Alex Kierstein agreed, writing in our logbook, "Overall, I think the CVT isn't great ...

Honda rolls out various oddities for 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon

On January 9 the doors at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba will open for the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon. and you know what that means, boys and girls: that's right, all sorts of strange mod jobs. Not to be confused with the Tokyo Motor Show that's Japan's main automotive expo, the Tokyo Auto Salon is the Nipponese equivalent of SEMA. Honda is among the first to announce its lineup for the show, and, well... let's just say they're not all hideous and leave it at that. The H brand has got a whole array of customized machinery in store for the tuner expo, starting with the new N-Box Slash that just went on sale in Japan as the company's latest Kei car. One version of the tall wagon on the tiny wheelbase is obviously inspired by America, or at least a Japanese impression of what American car culture is like: it's decked out in red with racing stripes, flame graphics, a highway road sign and strange checkerboard wheels. Another N-Box Slash dubbed the Cyber Code:89 concept looks like something from anime, all decked out in futuristic graphics and glowing lights. A third example is rather more tastefully done up in teal with yellow accents. Of course Honda hasn't put all its eggs in the Slash basket, turning its attention as it has to other models in the JDM lineup. There's a retro N-One concept with a low-key grey and white exterior but with a zany multicolor interior, a tasteful white N-WGN with Modulo accessories, an Odyssey Absolute 20th Anniversary edition minivan, a take on the NM4 cruiser bike that'd look right at home in Akira and – one of our favorites from the lot – a Mugen take on the Honda Legend that we know as the Acura RLX. Whether your plans will take you to Tokyo for the show or not, you can scope 'em all out in the high-res image gallery for a closer look.