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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.

Options sheet for the BMW M2 leaks

The same folks over at the 2addicts forum that brought us preliminary specs on the BMW M2 have apparently gotten their hands on the option sheet for what will be the littlest M. Reports indicate 365 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque from turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six, working through either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch. Other features on the car won't be so replete with choice. According to the options sheet provided by a forum member there's only one wheel style available, 19-inch black numbers, said to be the black light alloy double spoke wheels that can be specced on the M4. There's a parking sensor fitted to the rear, but no sensor option for the front of the car. Navigation Pro and carbon interior inserts are standard, as is the Shadowline black exterior trim, which swaps out chrome trim around the windows and other places for muted black. Among the options will be power heated seats, a rearview camera, adaptive headlights, an upgraded Harman Kardon stereo, and a five-year warranty. Those adaptive headlights are xenon; LED headlights aren't available. Neither is a carbon fiber roof. But there will be a moonroof option, BMW's Electronic Damper Control, and proper M seats by the looks of it - the coupe will get M235i seats as standard. Take this news with some salt - the order information comes from a Belgian member who ordered his Euro-spec car, so US option mileage might vary. Related Video:

The 2016 BMW M2 is a steroid-addled M235i [UPDATE]

UPDATE: As it turns out, BMW mixed up the weight specs in the official press materials. We spoke to BMW for confirmation, and the manual M2 weighs 3,450 pounds, the DCT car weighs 3,505. We've updated the text to reflect this. If you're looking for a featherweight M235i, you'll be disappointed. The extra power and goodies are offset by negligible weight savings. When we first got behind the wheel of the M235i early last year, BMW was quick to point out the spiritual link between the small quasi-M car and its ancestors, the 2002 Turbo and the E30 M3, but we couldn't help but think fondly of the more potent 1M Coupe. And while the M235i got a lot of things right, its weight and price took some of the shine off it. But more importantly, the intangibles that those older BMWs nailed was somewhat lacking in the M235i – while fun, it was somewhat distant, unlike the visceral 1M. Until we drive the 2016 BMW M2, those intangibles will remain intangible. But on paper, the M2 looks to be a super-M235i, buffed up with M goodies like an active rear differential and lightened suspension components. But if you're looking for a featherweight M235i, you'll be disappointed. The extra power and goodies are offset by negligible weight savings. With the manual it weighs 3,450 pounds, an 85-pound reduction. With the DCT, it's a wash at 3,505 pounds. At least the M2 looks like a proper M car. The side bodywork swells 2.1 inches up front and 3.1 inches in the rear to accommodate wide 19-inch forged wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. The front end takes the M235i theme (itself an adrenaline-injected version of lesser 2 Series cars) and adds steroidal menace, with the expected larger intakes to feed the extra engine radiator. Out back, there's a diffuser in the rear tray that the M235i lacks, and the scallops that incorporate the taillights plainly telegraph the extra rear width. It's the M4's handsome younger sibling. Like the M235i to which its clearly related, the heart of the M2 is a 3.0-liter inline-six that inhales through a TwinScroll exhaust manifold-integrated turbocharger. High-precision direct injection, Double-VANOS, and Valvetronic are all present and accounted for, with some M goodies like pistons and crank bearings trickling down from the M3 and M4. The result is 365 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 343 pound-feet of torque available from as low as 1,400 rpm.