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The all-new Ford 5.2-liter flat-plane crankshaft V8 found in the Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustang will produce 526 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque. At 102 horsepower per liter, the engine is both the most power-dense and the most powerful naturally aspirated road-going engine in Ford history
The Ford 5.2-liter DOHC Voodoo engine (shown above) that powers the new Shelby GT350 is the only V8 on the 2016 WardsAuto 10 Best Engines list. In fact, for the first time three electrified drivetrains earned a place on the highly anticipated roster of exceptional engines, now in its 22nd year.
Joining the Ford 526-horsepower beast are:
- BMW 3.0-liter turbo DOHC I6 from the 340i
- GM 3.6-liter DOHC V6 from the Chevy Camaro and Cadillac ATS
- Chevy 1.5-liter DOHC I4 from the Volt
- Hyundai 2.0-liter DOHC I4 from the Sonata PHEV
- Nissan 3.5-liter DOHC from the Maxima
- Ram 3.0-liter DOHC turbodiesel from the 1500 EcoDiesel
- Subaru 2.0-liter turbo DOHC H4 from the WRX
- Toyota 1.8-liter DOHC I4 from the Prius HEV
- Volvo 2.0-liter turbo/supercharged I4 from the XC90
The Ram 3.0-liter EcoDiesel, left,is a repeat winner while the Volvo 4-banger features both a supercharger for low-end boost and a turbocharger for high-end performance.
Editors from WardsAuto studied and drove 31 contenders in October and November. There was no instrumented testing, just personal observations during normal city and highway driving. The engines were scored on horsepower, torque, comparative specs, noise attenuation, fuel economy and application of new technology. According to the magazine, the guiding principle asked if the engine or electric propulsion system truly sold the car or raised the bar for its competitive segment.
One of two returning engines from last year’s list is the Subaru turbo boxer found in the WRX.
Eligible vehicles are priced under $61,000. The Volkswagen Group of automakers was barred from participating due to the company’s diesel emissions scandal.
The Ford V8, which EngineLabs has covered here and here, features a flat-plane crankshaft and weight-reducing Plasma Transfer Wire Arc cylinder coating. The only returning engines from the 2015 list are the Ram EcoDiesel, which yielded 24 mpg over 10 days of testing, and the Subaru boxer found in the hot little WRX.
