Ward's AutoWorld Announces Ten Best Engines of 2002

DETROIT, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Eighth Annual Ward's Ten Best Engines were announced today, Wednesday, January 9, 2002 during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Winners were selected by a panel of editors from Ward's Communications, the leading provider of auto industry news and information and a division of PRIMEDIA (NYSE: PRM - news).

The Ward's Ten Best Engines of 2002 (in alphabetical order):

           Engine (and tested vehicle)
          *    BMW AG 3L DOHC I-6 (330 Ci)
          *    BMW AG 3.2L DOHC I-6 (M3)
          *    DaimlerChrysler AG 5L SOHC V-8
               (Mercedes-Benz ML500)
          *    Ford Motor Co. 5.4L SOHC V-8/5.4L
               supercharged SOHC V-8 (F-150/F-150 Lightning)
          *    General Motors Corp. 4.2L DOHC I-6
               (GMC Envoy)
          *    General Motors Corp. Duramax 6.6L
               OHV turbodiesel V-8 (Chevrolet Silverado HD)
          *    Honda Motor Co. Ltd. 2L DOHC I-4
               (Acura RSX Type S)
          *    Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. 3.5L DOHC V-6
               (Altima 3.5 SE)
          *    Porsche AG 2.7L DOHC H-6 (Boxster)
          *    Volkswagen AG 1.8L turbocharged DOHC
               I-4 (Jetta 1.8T)

Five of 2002's Ten Best Engines are repeat winners from last year. One of 2001's winners -- the Nissan ``VQ'' 3L V-6 -- had earned a Best Engine honor seven years straight, but was retired from production for the 2002 model year. The Nissan VQ legacy lives on, however: this year's winning 3.5-liter Nissan V-6 proved a worthy descendent. Meanwhile, the BMW 3.2-liter DOHC inline 6-cyl., General Motors Corp. 4.2-liter ``Vortec'' inline 6-cyl., DaimlerChrysler Mercedes 5-liter SOHC V-8 and Honda/Acura 2-liter DOHC I-4 all are first-time winners.

``This year may have been the most competitive in the 8-year history of the Ward's Ten Best Engines competition,'' said Bill Visnic, senior technical editor for Ward's AutoWorld magazine and editor of Ward's Engine & Vehicle Technology Update. ``Automakers and their supplier partners are reaching new levels of engine power density and refinement. It may be a cliche, but it's true: the bar is continually being raised -- to the point where winning a Ward's Best Engines award is an engine design and development achievement without parallel.''

The 2002 edition of the Ward's Ten Best Engines shows a continuing move toward smaller, more power-dense engines. ``There are two gasoline V-8 winners for 2002,'' notes Visnic, who also points out that three engines on this year's winners' list are inline 6-cyl. units. ``It looks like the inline-six format isn't about to fade away,'' he says, ``and in fact, with GM's new high-volume Vortec, it could be said an inline-six renaissance is underway.''

During a two-month test period, six editors from Ward's Communications evaluated the engines ``nominated'' from 30 different cars, trucks and SUVs. Scoring encompassed the crucial engine characteristics of power, torque, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), technical relevance and basic comparative numbers. All engines nominated and tested were in vehicles with a base MSRP under $50,000. ``The engines in high-priced vehicles should be outstanding,'' says Visnic. ``By setting a realistic base price, we ensure the awards have value and relevance to the average consumer.''

Details of the Ward's Ten Best Engines will be featured in the January issues of Ward's AutoWorld and Ward's Engine & Vehicle Technology Update and at http://www.wardsauto.com.

Ward's AutoWorld is a monthly magazine serving more than 100,000 automotive professionals globally. The twice-monthly newsletter Ward's Engine & Vehicle Technology Update provides analysis of engineering advancements and technical issues. Each is published by Southfield, MI-based Ward's Communications, a division of PRIMEDIA Business.

About Ward's Communications

A world leader in automotive information, Ward's Communications, a PRIMEDIA company, has covered the auto industry for more than 75 years. With a variety of information products ranging from monthly magazines (the widely read Ward's Auto World and Ward's Dealer Business) to weekly and twice-monthly newsletters (Ward's Automotive Reports, Ward's Engine and Vehicle Technology Update), as well as database products and the continually updated website, WardsAuto.com, Ward's Communications is widely regarded as the source for global auto industry news and analysis. More information about subscriptions and sponsorship opportunities is available at http://www.WardsAuto.com.

About PRIMEDIA

PRIMEDIA is the new tradition in media. With 2000 sales of $1.7 billion from a unique combination of traditional and new media properties, it is the leading provider of targeted content and integrated marketing solutions in both the consumer and business-to-business sectors.