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Ward's announces 10 Best Engines 2015

Ward's Auto has named its 10 Best Engines for 2015, covering a range of powerplants from fuel-sippers to fire-breathers. As with past years, forced-induction reigns supreme, with seven of the ten engines featuring a turbo or supercharger. This year is slightly different, though, as two of the seven blown engines are turbocharged three-cylinder mills, from the Ford Fiesta and Mini Cooper. They're joined by the 2.0-liter turbo four from the Volvo S60, the 1.8-liter turbo four from the Volkswagen Jetta and the 2.0-liter boxer from the Subaru WRX. BMW and Chrysler were the only marques to be named to this year's list twice, with the electric motor from the i3 joining the Mini's three-pot, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 in the Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee repping the diesel crowd, alongside a certain supercharged monster. Hyundai also took a prize with a zero-emissions powertrain, with the Tucson FCV's 100-kilowatt fuel cell making the list (apparently Ward's is quite generous with what it deems an "engine"). Rounding out the list are two Autoblog favorites, each displacing 6.2 liters, but producing their power very differently. On the one hand, Chevrolet's overhead-valve, 455-horsepower V8, found in the Corvette, makes its power the old fashioned way. And in the other corner, we have one of the most exciting engines of the year – the 707-hp, 6.2-liter, supercharged Hellcat V8, featured so prominently in the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat. "We spend a lot of time reading the powertrain tea leaves throughout the auto industry, and we're proud that this year's list is a microcosm of all the latest innovation coming from automakers," said Ward's Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter in a statement. "It's not just a list for enthusiasts or for environmentalists," he says. "There's something for every vehicle shopper and every budget. All the powertrains on this list deliver a first-rate driving experience," Winter added. Scroll down for the full list from Ward's, and let us know which engines you think belong and which should have been included in this year's rankings. Ward's 10 Best Engines of 2015 Announced by Penton's WardsAuto Honorees span most diverse and technically advanced engines in 21 years of recognized powertrain excellence SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Penton's Wards 10 Best Engines of 2015 have been announced.

Ford files trademark for 'EcoBeast' moniker

Ford has done some performance stuff with its EcoBoost line of vehicles, most notably with its Focus and Fiesta ST, the new, turbocharged Mustang and the luke-warm Taurus SHO and F-150 Tremor, but it's kind of avoided going wholly bonkers. That could be set to change quite soon, judging by a trademark filing with Uncle Sam. Ford has registered the name EcoBeast with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, listing it as "automobiles and automobile engines," according to the team at Motorlix, which discovered the filing. As always, it bears mentioning that companies are constantly filing trademarks, even if a good or service never emerges with said name. We agree with Motorlix, though – it seems highly unlikely Ford is going to just let this name languish. What vehicle or engine will wear this new badge is the real question. We're leaning towards something F-150 related, based on our last round of spy photos of the new SVT Raptor, although it's impossible to say for certain what the Blue Oval has planned. Here's hoping we find out in just a few weeks when Ford brings basically all of its performance merchandise to the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. Until then, let us know what you think Ford is planning with the EcoBeast.

Martin Leach's secret EV startup revealed: NextEV

More details have surfaced about ex-Ford executive Martin Leach and the electric-vehicle start-up he's helping to lead. The company is called NextEV, and it's based in Shanghai, Reuters says. Among the fledgling company's investors is Hillhouse Capital, which also has a stake in San Francisco-based car-hailing service Uber Technologies. NextEV is also partnered up with first season Formula E champs China Racing, and that the team will be running a NextEV drivetrain this upcoming season. Late last month, Leach confirmed to Reuters that he was working with an electric-vehicle startup which had employees in both California and China, but he didn't get into the nitty gritty. Now, the company is said to include former BMW senior designer Juho Suh and former Tesla Motors senior program director John Thomas. And although no details have been disclosed about funding levels, there are hints that it may be substantial given possible Chinese backing and an effort to develop a high-end electric vehicle for in China for the domestic market. The group is working on an electric vehicle that it says may debut as early as next year. The supercar will have more than 1,000 horsepower, and will be able to go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) in less than three seconds, suggesting that the company – like so many others – is looking to out-Tesla Tesla. Leach left his post as chief operating officer of Ford of Europe in 2003, even after being named man of the year by Automobile magazine. He subsequently ran Maserati, then worked last year for Hong Kong-based Hybrid Tech Holdings. That company unsuccessfully put in a bid for the assets of then-bankrupt high-end plug-in vehicle maker Fisker Automotive. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Luca Bruno / AP Green Ford Electric Shanghai nextev martin leach