Displacing 2.0 liters and producing 270 horsepower, the turbocharged Ecotec found under the hood of the 2012 Buick Regal GS is GM’s most power-dense engine. It is now also one of WardsAuto World’s 10 Best Engines as well as being certified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). For the roundup, Ward’s looked at 35 engines from 15 manufactures to determine this year’s 10. Factors such as noise, vibration, harshness, power, fuel economy and even innovative technology are all taken into consideration to determine the merit of the winners. An all-alluminum block and heads encase forged connecting rods to ensure the Ecotec can handle the added abuse of turbocharged boost. A twin-scroll turbocharger pumps extra air into the dual overhead cam head to produce 295 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 mph time under 6.7 seconds.
“The turbocharged Ecotec 2.0L belongs on the list this year because it makes an outrageous 135 hp per liter in the Regal GS, and it’s a blast to drive,” said WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. “This engine delivers a level of power and sophistication that redefines Buick.”
Source: Buick
