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Popular Science magazine's Best Of What's New 2012 all ate up with cars

Popular Science has named the winners in its Best of What's New awards, the victors coming in the categories of aerospace, automotive, engineering, entertainment, gadgets, green, hardware, health, home, recreation, security and software. The automotive category did not go wanting for lauded advancements:
Tesla Model S: the Grand Award winner for being "the standard by which all future electric vehicles will be measured."
BMW 328i: it's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gets called out for being more powerful and frugal than the six-cylinder it replaces.

Toyota rolls out new turbo engine on updated JDM Auris

Toyota may be among the leaders in hybrid powertains, but the Japanese auto giant knows there's more than one way to skin a proverbial cat – especially when it comes to green propulsion. To that end, it has announced a new series of downsized turbocharged engines. Leading the charge is 8NR-FTS, a new 1.2-liter turbocharged and direct-injected engine that uses a single-scroll turbocharger and a water-cooled exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head. The engine promises to deliver "responsive acceleration and maximum torque across a wide rpm range" combined with "drastically improved thermal and fuel efficiency." It features what Toyota calls D-4T technology – combining direct-injection with a turbocharger in a four-stroke engine – as well as continuously variable intake valve timing. The result is an engine that produces 114 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque from just 1,196 cubic centimeters of displacement. The engine is being rolled out initially on a redesigned version of the Auris hatchback (similar to the Scion iM we'll be getting Stateside) that's being introduced in Japan. In addition to the 1.2-liter turbo, the JDM Auris will also be available with a 1.5- and 1.8-liter engines. Buyers will also be able to choose between CVT and six-speed manual transmissions (the latter only available with the 1.8), in front- or all-wheel drive and in six trim levels – of which the 120T with the new 1.2 and CVT is the top. The refreshed Auris also benefits from revised sheetmetal, interior equipment and safety features. We're awaiting word back from Toyota on whether this new engine (or some derivative thereof) will be made available in North America, but in the meantime you can scope out all the details on both the engine and the new Auris in the press releases below and in the pair of high-resolution image galleries. Turbocharged Toyota Auris Goes on Sale in Japan Toyota City, Japan, April 6, 2015-The partially redesigned Toyota Auris, offering a newly developed turbo engine and a brand new safety package, went on sale in Japan today. Featuring significant interior and exterior changes, this latest redesign advances the Auris brand by building on the individuality and performance that has defined the model since its first generation. In addition, Toyota has combined the best of the model's new features by creating the high-end 120T grade. Across all grades, Toyota aims to sell 1,000 units per month in Japan.

Ford, Toyota clean up in Best Car For The Money Awards

The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards picks winners by looking at the average transaction price, five-year total cost of ownership, the regard a car has from the automotive press, reliability figures from J.D. Power and Associates and safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The result, according to the magazine, is "the best combination of critical acclaim and long-term value."
Ford nabbed six of the 21 categories that received awards this year, the Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Taurus, Escape and Edge getting trophies. Toyota and its Lexus and Scion sub-brands took another five, the Tacoma and Tundra owning the two categories given to pickup trucks. The other ten awards were split between Honda with three, Buick with two, and one each for Subaru, BMW, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Mazda.
Follow the link to see all the winners and read about why they were chosen.