The shiny new toys on the shelf may be partially or fully electrified, but a fresh take on an old faithful engine still earned recognition on the 2025 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems list.
Chevy’s twin-turbo 5.5-liter LT7 V8 that provides 1,064 horsepower for the C8 ZR1 was the only standard internal combustion engine honored by Wards this year.
The remaining nine winners are electrified in some form or fashion.
“As the auto industry moves away from near-term timelines for all-electric propulsion, U.S. consumers are more than ever embracing electrification, namely in the form of hybridization,” says Christie Schweinsberg, manager-Wards 10 Best awards programs and Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems’ judge. “The hybrid winners on our 2025 list strike a perfect balance of power, fuel economy and value. They are also some of the most technically complex powertrains we’ve ever tested, once again showcasing the talent of automotive engineers to deliver alluring specifications, oftentimes with limited budgets.”
As the industry backs away from its intense switch to electric platforms somewhat, hybrid powertrains are moving into the picture, with five hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains on the Wards list.
Besides the Corvette’s LT7, other winners were the BMW M 5, 4.4L Turbocharged V8 PHEV; Dodge Charger Daytona, Electric; Ford F-150, 3.5L Turbocharged V6 HEV; Honda Civic Hybrid, 2.0L I4 HEV; Hyundai Ioniq 9, Electric; Lexus LX, 700h 3.4L Turbocharged V6 HEV; Lucid Gravity, Electric; Mercedes-AMG E53, 3.0L Turbocharged I6 PHEV; and Nissan Leaf, Electric.
The 28 nominees for the list included 20 electrified vehicles, with half of those battery-electric and the other half being hybrids. Other GM nominees were the turbocharged 2.5L I4 LK0 in the Buick Enclave and the electric propulsion system in the Cadillac Escalade IQ.
The 10 winners, which are unranked individually, will be recognized at an invitation-only award ceremony honoring this year’s trophy-takers to be held Oct. 23 in Dearborn, Michigan.
Source:
wardsauto.com
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