You may have noticed a glaring absence from our constant coverage of the auto world recently. While everyone else on the Web and beyond jumped all over Ward’s top ten best engines of 2009, we did not. Why? They got it wrong. Sure, every year the list comes out and we mumble about what engine should have been on there or why one mill ranked higher than another, but not this year. It was seriously wrong. We have no problem with giving credit where credit is due. In fact, we’re completely chill with the idea of Audi’s 2.0 TFSI taking a spot – it’s a great mill. But number one? And what in the name of the car gods is Chrysler’s 5.7-liter Hemi doing in the top five? Chaos! So after we shook ourselves from the confusion of Ward’s logic, we tackled my own, absolutely unscientific list. Hop for a look.

10. Lexus 5.0-liter V8
Yes, it’s technically made by Toyota, but this beating heart doesn’t find its way into anything with a Yota badge, so Lexus it is. This quad-cam terror dishes out a riotous 416 horsepower and 371 lb-ft of torque, all sans-forced induction. It’s a direct-injection motor, meaning you’re getting the most per gulp of fuel – which isn’t great, but still. There are titanium intake valves controlled Toyota’s electronic valve timing and a boatload of other reasons why this motor rocks, but all you really need to know is how this sucker sounds. It’s like God is reaching into your ear and tickling the drum. You want to laugh and wet yourself all at the same time.

9. Audi 3.0-liter TDI V6
This is the same engine found in the nose of the Q7 we drove from Denver to Las Vegas a couple of months ago, and after over 1,000 miles, it was hard to whine about. Quiet, powerful and fuel stingy, this motor makes us wonder why everyone can’t build ‘em like this. The 3.0-liter V6 puts out just 225 horsepower, but a walloping 405 lb-ft of torque. It’s more than enough gusto to scoot the three-row Q7 down the road in a hurry.

8. BMW 3.0-liter Twin-Turbo I6

Yep, another diesel. This one comes straight from Auidi’s competition and sports one more turbo. The bi-turbo inline six-cylinder engine delivers up to 36 mpg on the highway when in the 335d sedan, all the while supplying generous power. We say generous because even at 265 horses, this inline six dishes out 425 lb-ft of torque. It’s so much twisting fury that BMW doesn’t even make a manual transmission that can handle the power. If that’s not progress, we don’t know what is.

7. Hyundai 3.8-liter V6
This would be the bad ass little puppy found in the upcoming Genesis Coupe. The sizeable pistons in this motor kick to the tune of 300 horsepower, which is well within reach of the likes of the Nissan mill you’ll see later down the list. This motor is an all-new approach for Hyundai, and we hope it has what it takes to fight all of the negative attention the company has received here in the states as a bargain-basement car builder. The 3.8 V6 dishes out plenty of tech advancements to help it play nice with the rest of the kids out there, including electronic valve timing.

6. Lamborghini 5.2-liter V10
Gun to a knife fight? Maybe. But there’s no denying the unholy awesomeness of the 5.2-liter V10 packed in the rear of the Gallardo LP560-4. It’s hard to argue with the burbling majesty of those ten cylinders kicking to the tune of 8,000 rpm. It makes for the kind of auditory delight that can only be had at the hands of 553 horsepower and 398 torques, and unlike most of the other occupants on this list, the 5.2 V10 is absolutely gorgeous to look at.

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