12-06-06: While Ford has been suffering financial and market woes in the past few years, the company continues to win awards and accolades for its products and engineering. This week Wards Auto World announced its annual "Ward's 10 Best Engines" list which included not one, but two of Ford’s power plants.

The new 3.5 liter Duratec DOHC 24-valve V6 made the list for the first time and it was joined by the 4.6 liter 3-valve SOHC V8 for the third year in a row. Fords engines are included in a heady list of world class power plants including those of BMW, Audi, Daimler Benz, and Toyota.

"This is an exceptional accomplishment and a testament to our powertrain development process." said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Ford Motor Company, Powertrain Product Development Operations. "The 3.5-liter engine class is one of the most competitive in the industry, so it is high praise to have our new engine stand out and be among the 10 best in the industry."

Ford’s new 3.5 liter V6 is rated at 265 hp. Currently, the engine is available in the all new Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and MKZ. In the coming years the engine will become the backbone of Ford’s car line up eventually being offered in the Ford Five Hundred, Freestyle, Fusion, a number of future models to be announced, and possibly even the next generation Ford Mustang.

One of the remarkable features of the 3.5 liter V6 is that is produces its horsepower on 87 octane “regular” unleaded. Many of the same engines on Ward’s 10 best list require premium gas to produce similar power. The current 3.5 V6 is also just the starting point. Ford says the engine is designed to grow larger in displacement and can easily accept turbochargers and direct injection technology. We recently saw a supercharged application on display at the 2006 SEMA show as well. The Duratec 3.5 V-6 is produced in the goold 'ol USA in Lima, Ohio.

Again, the much loved 4.6 liter 3-valve V8 from Mustang, Explorer, and Mountaineer has made the grade also. This is the third consecutive year the engine has made list. The 3-valve technology in the 4.6-liter V-8 offers improved power coupled with better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Also made in the United States, the 4.6 hails from Romeo, Michigan.

Ward's 10 Best Engines for 2007:

• Audi AG 2L turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
• BMW AG 3L DOHC I-6 (Z4 3.0si)
• BMW AG 3L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i)
• DaimlerChrysler AG 3L DOHC V-6 turbodiesel (MB E320 /Jeep Grand Cherokee)
• DaimlerChrysler AG Hemi 5.7L OHV V-8 (Chrysler 300C)
• Ford Motor Co. Duratec 35 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX)
• Ford Motor Co. 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang GT/Mustang Shelby GT)
• Mazda Motor Corp. 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed3)
• Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35)
• Toyota Motor Corp. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)