VW strikes again with engine of year

THE Volkswagen Group has taken top honours in the International Engine of the Year award for the second successive year, with its innovative 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger engine again voted as the world’s best powerplant in the coveted independent ‘Engine Oscars’.

Becoming the third engine to win the overall award back-to-back in the event’s 12-year history, the 1.4-litre supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine has again held off BMW and its 3.0-litre direct-injection twin-turbo straight-six, scoring 384 points to 365.

This was a wider margin than last year’s result, which had BMW’s DI twin-turbo just four points shy of the TSI – the closest result ever recorded in the awards program.

Again, these two engines were the standout performers, finishing well ahead of the Mercedes-AMG 6.2-litre (on 258 points) – the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated production V8, which as well as taking a podium place overall won the best performance engine and the over-4.0-litre category ahead of some wonderful powertrains, including the 4.5-litre V8 in the Ferrari F458 Italia.

Interestingly, this is not the dry-sump version featuring on the Mercedes-AMG SLS supercar, which does not rate a mention in the 2010 awards.

The judging panel, which comprises 65 motoring journalists from 32 countries (including Australia), simply noted that this was the “final hurrah” for the AMG 6.2, with a 5.5-litre twin-turbo to soon have its first application in the forthcoming S AMG sedan.

From top: BMW 6-cylinder twin-turbo, AMG 6.2 V8

BMW, which prior to 2009 had won the overall contest four years in a row, also featured three other times in the top seven places in this year’s overall awards with its 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel (fourth, as seen in its 1 Series and X1), the mighty 4.0-litre V8 (fifth, from the M3) and the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo (seventh) built in collaboration with PSA Peugeot Citroen and used in several Mini and PSA models.

The Bavarian marque is also the only other brand to have won back-to-back titles, with the 3.0-litre twin-turbo in 2007 and 2008, and 5.0-litre V10 in 2005 and 2006.

BMW was, however, denied first place in 2010 by a powerplant that Australian judge Bill McKinnon described as a clear winner.

“Last year’s IEOTY is still the most accurate, efficient pointer to the future of petrol power,” Mr McKinnon said. “It was an easy choice.” Ferrari’s 4.5-litre V8 also missed out in the best new engine of the year category, deferring to its Italian stablemates that use Fiat’s 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo engine, including the Alfa Romeo MiTo and the all-new Giulietta.

The 458’s engine placed second in this section (200 points to 228), ahead of VW’s 1.2-litre TSI (134), Mercedes’ 4.0-litre hybrid powertrain (76) and yet another VW Group development: the 3.0-litre TSI Hybrid engine (71), which serves in both the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid and VW Touareg Hybrid.

BMW’s 4.4-litre V8, as seen in the M versions of the X5 and X6, also featured in the best new engines section, although it was back in sixth place (68 points).

Despite its win in the new engine category, Fiat’s MultiAir took second place in the best green engine section behind Toyota’s 1.8-litre hybrid engine, which has received further improvements in recent times and is now extended beyond Prius to the Auris/Corolla.

Australian judge John Carey commented: “More powerful, polished and parsimonious, the latest, thoroughly redesigned version of Toyota’s iconic hybrid drivetrain is better in every way that counts.” 2010 International Engine of the Year Awards

International Engine of the Year 2010:
Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (VW Golf, Scirocco, Jetta, Touran, Tiguan, Seat Ibiza Cupra)

Best New Engine of 2010:
Fiat 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo (Alfa MiTo, Giulietta)

Green Engine of the Year:
Toyota hybrid 1.8-litre (Prius, Auris/Corolla)

Best Performance Engine:
Mercedes-AMG 6.2-litre (C63 AMG, S63 AMG, SL63 AMG, CL63 AMG, E63 AMG, CLS63 AMG, ML63 AMG)

Sub 1.0-litre:
Toyota 1.0-litre three-cylinder (Toyota Aygo, IQ, Yaris/Vitz, Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, Subaru Justy)

1.0-litre to 1.4-litre:
Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (VW Golf, Scirocco, Jetta, Touran, Tiguan, Seat Ibiza Cupra)

1.4-litre to 1.8-litre:
BMW-PSA 1.6-litre Turbo (Mini Cooper S, Clubman Cooper S, Peugeot 207, 308, Mini JCW, Clubman JCW)

1.8-litre to 2.0-litre:
BMW 2.0-litre Twin Turbo Diesel (123d, X1 23d)

2.0-litre to 2.5-litre:
Audi 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo (Audi TT RS)

2.5-litre to 3.0-litre:
BMW 3.0-litre DI Twin Turbo (135i, 335i, 535i, X5 35i, X6 35i, Z4)

3.0-litre to 4.0-litre:
BMW 4.0-litre V8 (M3)

Above 4.0-litre:
Mercedes-AMG 6.2-litre (C63 AMG, S63 AMG, SL63 AMG, CL63 AMG, E63 AMG, CLS63 AMG, ML63 AMG)