Engines.
To some, they're a bunch of complicated metal bits that live in the dark under your hood, and do something with oil and gasoline to make the car go. To others, engines have a character, a soul, a personality, and even a voice.
I'm one of those folks. If you're reading this, you probably are too.
And with that, I give you fellow pistonheads my 'in-no-particular-order-list-of-awesomely-fantastic-recent-engines'.
Honda K20: This two-litre, 197-horsepower beastie powered up the last-generation Civic Si. The last screaming Honda engine, it wasn't torquey or excessively powerful, but it revved usably to 8,000 RPM, made cool sound effects when VTEC kicked in, and was decent on fuel if you drove it gently.
Which, of course, you won't.
This engine is no longer in production, but in used models, kids on the Internet say the K20 loves bolt-on upgrades an can make gobs of extra power for a couple of bucks in parts.
Ford 5.0L V8: Five litres of displacement. 412 modestly-rated horsepower. 7,000-RPM redline. Special duct that projects intake sound effects into the cabin. Enough said.
Thanks for putting the "5.0" badge back on the 'Stang's fenders, Ford. Your new engine kicks serious ass.
Subaru 2.5L Boxer Turbo: Torque, cool sound effects and an awesome, lumpy-sounding idle are trademark signs that a Subaru boxer turbo engine is under your hood. The unit powering the latest WRX makes 265 horsepower, never misses a beat, and gets things moving along in a real hurry.
Drive it gently, and it'll turn in decent mileage. Drive the pants off it, it'll turn you into a grinning man-child with an insatiable appetite for Ken Block YouTube videos.
Nissan VQ37VHR: One of the most award-winning engine families of all time powers numerous Nissan and Infiniti models, including the G37xS sedan. This silky-smooth mill makes plenty of power everywhere, loves to rev, and positively screams as it approaches its 7,500-RPM redline. Also works well in gentle driving, but isn't shy about making its voice heard. You've got to hear this one.
Actually, click this, and you can.
BMW N54: BMW's twin-turbo, three-litre straight six, still used in 'is'-designated models, combines high-revving excitement with turbocharged mid-range thrust, and smothers it with a blanket of refined mechanical classiness.
Don't miss the warm, mellow exhaust sound and exhaust that burps and pops during gearshifts. On this side of a six-digit price tag, the N54 is one of the best engines for serenading nearby motorists and pedestrians with.
Chrysler SRT HEMI V8: Sure--it's big, thirsty and low-tech, but Chrysler's SRT V8 is massively entertaining in an awesomely redneck sort of way. It's got one camshaft in the block, exhaust that sounds like 4th-of-July fireworks, and the displacement of a 12-pack of Budweiser tall cans, give or take a chug.
Tire-vaporizing torque? Check. Horsepower? Lots. On-demand burnouts? Definitely. Politically correct? Negative. Perfect!
To some, they're a bunch of complicated metal bits that live in the dark under your hood, and do something with oil and gasoline to make the car go. To others, engines have a character, a soul, a personality, and even a voice.
I'm one of those folks. If you're reading this, you probably are too.
And with that, I give you fellow pistonheads my 'in-no-particular-order-list-of-awesomely-fantastic-recent-engines'.
Honda K20: This two-litre, 197-horsepower beastie powered up the last-generation Civic Si. The last screaming Honda engine, it wasn't torquey or excessively powerful, but it revved usably to 8,000 RPM, made cool sound effects when VTEC kicked in, and was decent on fuel if you drove it gently.
Which, of course, you won't.
This engine is no longer in production, but in used models, kids on the Internet say the K20 loves bolt-on upgrades an can make gobs of extra power for a couple of bucks in parts.
Ford 5.0L V8: Five litres of displacement. 412 modestly-rated horsepower. 7,000-RPM redline. Special duct that projects intake sound effects into the cabin. Enough said.
Thanks for putting the "5.0" badge back on the 'Stang's fenders, Ford. Your new engine kicks serious ass.
Subaru 2.5L Boxer Turbo: Torque, cool sound effects and an awesome, lumpy-sounding idle are trademark signs that a Subaru boxer turbo engine is under your hood. The unit powering the latest WRX makes 265 horsepower, never misses a beat, and gets things moving along in a real hurry.
Drive it gently, and it'll turn in decent mileage. Drive the pants off it, it'll turn you into a grinning man-child with an insatiable appetite for Ken Block YouTube videos.
Nissan VQ37VHR: One of the most award-winning engine families of all time powers numerous Nissan and Infiniti models, including the G37xS sedan. This silky-smooth mill makes plenty of power everywhere, loves to rev, and positively screams as it approaches its 7,500-RPM redline. Also works well in gentle driving, but isn't shy about making its voice heard. You've got to hear this one.
Actually, click this, and you can.
BMW N54: BMW's twin-turbo, three-litre straight six, still used in 'is'-designated models, combines high-revving excitement with turbocharged mid-range thrust, and smothers it with a blanket of refined mechanical classiness.
Don't miss the warm, mellow exhaust sound and exhaust that burps and pops during gearshifts. On this side of a six-digit price tag, the N54 is one of the best engines for serenading nearby motorists and pedestrians with.
Chrysler SRT HEMI V8: Sure--it's big, thirsty and low-tech, but Chrysler's SRT V8 is massively entertaining in an awesomely redneck sort of way. It's got one camshaft in the block, exhaust that sounds like 4th-of-July fireworks, and the displacement of a 12-pack of Budweiser tall cans, give or take a chug.
Tire-vaporizing torque? Check. Horsepower? Lots. On-demand burnouts? Definitely. Politically correct? Negative. Perfect!