Every year the boys and gals at Wards take a look at the best powertrains from around the world, and pick what they feel are the 10-best. This year Ford has been awarded two honors, the first for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost and the second for the Shelby GT500 5.8-liter V8. This is the second year in a row that the 2.0-liter EcoBoost has received this distinction. The little turbocharged engine is responsible for powering cars across the Ford line-up including the Ford Taurus, Focus ST, Edge crossover and Transit.
Wards chose the engine for its ability to excel in so many applications with Drew Winter, editor in chief of WardsAuto World magazine saying, "What impresses us most this year is EcoBoost’s versatility. It is very entertaining as a performance car engine in the Focus ST. But what really amazes us is that it also is a perfect match for the two-ton Taurus family sedan.”
In the Focus ST, the engine produces 252 horsepower but manages an EPA estimated 32 mpg on the highway cycle. The 5.8-liter V8 from the Shelby GT500 may be the most powerful production V8 available, but it takes more than power to win a mention on Ward’s list. With a highway fuel economy of 24 mpg, the monster Mustang manages to avoid the gas guzzler tax all while providing otherworldly power. “Very few engines deliver the balance of power and fuel efficiency the 5.8-liter does,” said Jamal Hameedi, GT500 chief nameplate engineer.
The GT500 also manages to squeeze under the $55,000 dollar price cap enforced by the team at Wards. Ford has now received 8 awards in the last five years, making it the most awarded domestic manufacturer and tied for the most wins with BMW. Three of those awards have been given to EcoBoost engines. With more than 520,000 EcoBoost engines sold, it seems buyers are just as impressed as the team at WardsAuto.