I don’t know a ton about foreign motors other than surface level stuff like the 2JZ, Wankel, etc. so please forgive my ignorance outside of US motors.
However, in my eyes, it doesn’t get better than the simplicity and easily available power of the SBC, BBC, and 6BT. What are your all time favorites and why?
Having driven big American V8s and little Japanese inline 4s I have to say the Honda J series of V6 engines is quite nice. The 3 liter in my 03 Accord is very nice paired with the relatively lackluster 6MT open transaxle.
All the 7th gen Accord EX V6 6MT needed to take it from being good to great would be a limited slip transaxle and a stiffer rear sway bar, both changes that were made for the Acura TL-S 6MT.