[Jason]

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BMW N55 and N20 Engines Winners of 2013 Ward's 10 Best Engines List

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TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder and Inline-6 both repeat winners

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – December 13, 2012… BMW TwinPowerTurbo technology again takes two of Ward’s 2013 10 Best Engines Awards. The 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder (N20) and 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-6 (N55) are both repeat winners.

“Nearly every BMW now sold in the US features TwinPower Turbo technology,” said Ludwig Willisch – President and CEO of BMW of North America, LLC. “In such a competitive market, to take two spots highlights the benefits of the BMW EfficientDynamics philosophy. It also shows that while we look for improvements in efficiency, we are still committed to fulfilling the promise of The Ultimate Driving Machine.”

Currently five models feature the 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder – Z4 sDrive28i, 528i Sedan, 328i Sedan, X3 xDrive28i and more recently, the X1 sDrive28i/xDrive28i. They will be joined next spring by the 328i Sports Wagon.

“The BMW N20’s calling card is fuel efficiency. We drove the 328i hard and still achieved close to 30 mpg. There are other good new 2.0L turbos in the market, but the N20, paired with an 8-speed transmission, topped them by several miles per gallon in our testing,” said Tom Murphy, Executive Editor at Ward’s Auto World. “The N20 makes 120 hp per liter, delivers gratifying low-end torque and is the type of engine many 2.0L turbos hope to be some day.”

The 2013 740i and 740Li, as well as the X1 xDrive35i Sports Activity Vehicle, are the newest models to receive the TwinPower Turbo inline-6. In addition, the new BMW ActiveHybrid 3, 5 and 7 models all feature the N55 TwinPower Turbo inline 6.

“The 300-hp 3.0L turbocharged inline-6 is a fantastic engine in everything from the X1 to the 7 Series, so we figured putting it in the small-ish 135is, with an extra 20 hp and more torque, would be scintillating. We were right. It loves to rev, sounds like a 1960s muscle car and makes the tachometer needle dance like a Rockette,” noted Murphy. “The N55 does more work by 2,500 rpm than most engines do at wide-open throttle.”

The 2013 740i, 740Li and ActiveHybrid 7 use the higher output version of the N55, first seen in the 640i Coupe and Convertible. It takes output and torque from 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque to 315 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. They will go from 0 – 60 mph in about five-and-a-half seconds and deliver 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway/22 mpg combined for the 740i and 740Li. The ActiveHybrid 7 delivers even more impressive mileage at 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined.

For 2013, Ward’s 10 Best Engines are:

• 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6, tested in the Audi S5
• 2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4, tested in the BMW 328i
• 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6, tested in the BMW 135is Coupe
• 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6, tested in the Ram 1500
• 2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4, tested in the Ford Focus ST and Taurus
• 5.8L Supercharged DOHC V-8, tested in the Ford Shelby GT500
• 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4, tested in the Cadillac ATS
• 2.4L DOHC I-4, tested in the Honda Accord Sport
• 3.5L SOHC V-6, tested in the Honda Accord
• 2.0L FA DOHC H-4 Boxer, tested in the Subaru BRZ

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[Arena Motor Dude]

Good job BMW for following up after the N54 was named one of the top 10 engines years ago. Surprised the S63tu didn't make the list.

[doublevanosrc]

Woo hoo!!

[AndreyATC]

Maybe Audi's 4.0L TT V8 should be on here as well
Amazing powerplant

[Mahzari]

Originally Posted by AndreyATC

Maybe Audi's 4.0L TT V8 should be on here as well
Amazing powerplant

Or Mercedes' M157 (5.5LTTV8), which can make 550hp and 590tq in Performance Package trim. With that being said, they can't all be high-performance German engines.

Interesting side note: There's no Porsche on the list. I think the 400hp (430hp w/ Powerkit) flat-6 in the 991 C2S is an amazing engine, but what do I know

[BMWM2]

[Majdnoon]

Not surprised to see these engines on the list, as much as people whine for high-revving NA Screamers, BMW definitely knows what they're doing under the hood.

On a non-BMW note, I'm actually REALLY glad to see Chrysler's 3.6 Pentastar on the list as well!

[Diver]

I drove a 328i with the N20/8 speed auto drive train as a loaner yesterday and I was impressed. It surpasses every 4 cylinder car I have ever driven and most NA 6 cylinder cars. A lot of people around here are mourning the death of the NA 6 needlessly.

[3Bimmer]

"They will be joined next spring by the 328i Sports Wagon."

I guess this tells us which engine the F31 will get when it arrives next spring. BMW, could we please get the N55 in the F31 wagon, too? Please? And while you're at it, toss a diesel into the mix, too.

[Ka razy]

I LOVE my N55!!

[Dark_Knight_335]

Oh wow, would you look at that...the N55 won.

[Rich@GTBPerformance]

Good stuff, both engines are well deserving

Originally Posted by Mahzari

Interesting side note: There's no Porsche on the list. I think the 400hp (430hp w/ Powerkit) flat-6 in the 991 C2S is an amazing engine, but what do I know

I agree with you Mahzari. I am surprised not to see the 991's Flat 6 in the lineup too, Considering the BHP per liter. I doubt it has anything to do with the fuel consumption which is downright impressive for an engine with that much power (19 city - 27 highway)

[Sedoy]

To be eligible, the engine also must be available in a vehicle with a base price of no more than US$54,000. So Carrera S is close to double of this price.

Originally Posted by Rich@GTBPerformance

Good stuff, both engines are well deserving



I agree with you Mahzari. I am surprised not to see the 991's Flat 6 in the lineup too, Considering the BHP per liter. I doubt it has anything to do with the fuel consumption which is downright impressive for an engine with that much power (19 city - 27 highway)

[red-sauerkraut]

All they need to do now is make the n20 sound as good as the n55

[positiveions]

Good news.

[Grovsnus]

Originally Posted by Mahzari

Or Mercedes' M157 (5.5LTTV8), which can make 550hp and 590tq in Performance Package trim. With that being said, they can't all be high-performance German engines.

Interesting side note: There's no Porsche on the list. I think the 400hp (430hp w/ Powerkit) flat-6 in the 991 C2S is an amazing engine, but what do I know

One criterion is that the engine has to be available in a car with a base price under $50,000

[Mahzari]

Originally Posted by Grovsnus

One criterion is that the engine has to be available in a car with a base price under $50,000

Makes sense, thank you.

But honestly, I have little respect for this list. They put two engines from the Honda Accord on the list? Let's get real: a 2.4 liter four-cylinder with 185hp and the same mileage as my N20 is not that impressive.

[Rich@GTBPerformance]

Originally Posted by Sedoy

To be eligible, the engine also must be available in a vehicle with a base price of no more than US$54,000. So Carrera S is close to double of this price.

Ahhh

That makes a lot more sense now. Thanks!

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by Mahzari

Makes sense, thank you.

But honestly, I have little respect for this list. They put two engines from the Honda Accord on the list? Let's get real: a 2.4 liter four-cylinder with 185hp and the same mileage as my N20 is not that impressive.

that Honda 4 wont break...ever. I agree from a performance standpoint it doesnt measure up, but Honda i4s are brilliant engines for their purpose. Its not a list of the 10 best performance engines. I have no issue with giving props to that powerplant.

[jadnashuanh]

People seem to be forgetting these awards are for the combination of POWER and ECONOMY. There are lots of engines out there that are terrors with power, but to combine them is what makes the BMW winners, the winners they are. They're just nice to have, sound good, low vibrations, decent power, decent economy - a good set of compromises and thus a winner.

[gedwierico]

Not surprised to see these engines on the list

[GTstunna612]

Good job BMW!!!