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Ward's Automotive Ten Best Engines of 2014 dominated by diesels, turbos

With the Car and Driver Ten Best decided, the North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announced and Cadillac, Ram and Subaru chalking up wins with Motor Trend, it's fair to say that the automotive awards season is in full swing. The next set of trophies to be handed out will be from Ward's Automotive, which has announced the winners of its 2014 10 Best Engines.
The latest contest was marked by the widespread emergence of diesel power and the continued success of turbocharged engines. There was even an electric motor on this year's list. In fact, only three of the ten winners were naturally aspirated and only two winners returned from last year.
"We weren't looking to throw the bums out, as they might say about an election. We were just really impressed with the flood of new powertrains," said Ward's Automotive Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. Those new powertrains include the 83-kilowatt electric motor from the Fiat 500e, the 1.0-liter, EcoBoost three-cylinder from the Ford Fiesta and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel from the Chevrolet Cruze.

2020 Ford Escape hybrids vs other crossover fuel sippers: How they compare on paper

Along with a new generation of Escape, Ford also reintroduced the world to the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. And if that weren't enough, Ford is adding a plug-in hybrid version. This is a sign of the times: people are more crossover crazy than ever, but are also seeking ways to use less fuel, whether it's for environmental or purely money-motivated reasons. The Ford hybrids aren't the only fuel-efficient compact crossovers on the market. They will be going head-to-head with conventional hybrids including the 2019 Kia Niro, 2019 Nissan Rogue Hybrid and 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. There are other plug-in hybrids including the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek PHEV, 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the plug-in version of the 2019 Kia Niro. There are even a couple diesels in the form of the 2019 Chevy Equinox and 2019 GMC Terrain. So we've rounded up the details on all these crossovers to see who leads and lags in criteria such as power, fuel efficiency, space and price. Check out all their details below. 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid View 68 Photos How do their engines and fuel economy compare? Conventional Hybrids and Diesels Let's face it, if you're buying one of these crossovers, one of the things that matters most to you is just how frugal with fuel they are. We'll start off with the conventional hybrids and diesels, and the clear victor is the Kia Niro, which in base FE trim, manages to hit 50 mpg combined. This is thanks to it sharing its powertrain with the Hyundai Ioniq, the Hyundai equivalent of the Toyota Prius. Buyers should take note that only the FE returns such high fuel economy. The LX and EX drop to 49 mpg, and the S Touring and Touring get 43. Even then, the least efficient Niro is the most efficient of the normal hybrids and diesels. It is nearly the least powerful, though, with 139 horsepower. Just behind it is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. It delivers 40 mpg combined, and it has an ace up its sleeve: it comes standard with all-wheel drive. Every other vehicle in this powertrain group has front drive standard, and the Niro isn't available with all-wheel drive at all. If that weren't enough, the RAV4 Hybrid also boasts the most power at 219 horses. While we can't say anything about Escape Hybrid fuel economy, we do know that it will make 198 horsepower, which is close to the class-leading RAV4. The least powerful of these is the Equinox and Terrain, and they return the worst fuel economy at 32 mpg.

2020 Harley-Davidson GMC Sierra brings the iconic brand to a new truck

The Harley-Davidson Ford F-150 rides alone no longer. Thanks to the Tuscany Motor Company, it now has a fellow truck associate to cruise with side-by-side on the open roads. Introducing the 2020 Harley-Davidson GMC Sierra, which will make its official debut at the 2020 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. For years, a Harley-Davidson special edition package has been associated with the Ford F-150 nameplate. Although Ford does not offer a direct option from the factory, Tuscany Motor Company answered the demand and now builds truck packages that carry the famous American motorcycle name. With the direction of Harley-Davidson, Tuscany creates interior and exterior customizations that reflect notable and iconic features of the bikes. This year is the first time Tuscany has ever offered a Harley-Davidson package on a GMC Sierra, and as expected, it's pretty similar to the one offered on the F-150. The package includes at least 60 exclusive parts, and the Sierra is available in Onxy Black, Summit White, or Satin Steel Metallic.  Setting the tone are Fatboy-inspired 22-inch milled aluminum wheels wrapped in chunky 35-inch all-terrain tires. As Tuscany is a division of Fox performance parts, the truck rides on a specially designed BDS suspension with tuned Fox shocks and lateral stability bars. The truck also has a redesigned front bumper and grille with an integrated LED light bar for off-roading, power running boards with rock guard trim and entry lights, color-matched Harley-Davidson-designed fender flares, custom front fender vents with the Harley logo, an induction-style hood, a redesigned rear bumper, and a tuned exhaust with billet tips. More badging, tailgate cladding, a windshield header, orange tow hooks, and a bed rug add extra pizzazz. Finally, for all the planes, drones, and aliens who are eyeing pickups from the sky, the tonneau cover is debossed with the Harley-Davidson logo.  Inside, the fan pack includes leather seating with orange diamond stitching, and piano black door panels, console, and trim. Harley-Davidson badging and branding is on the seats, on the center console, on the floor mats, the door sill inserts, the instrument gauges, and even the pedals.  If this is up your alley, and you're interested in buying, the Sierras, no matter the color, start at $94,995 before taxes and fees. For more information, visit Tuscany. Related Video: