BMW dethrones Ford to bag Int’l Engine of the Year 2015 award

BMW has won big at this year’s International Engine of the Year Awards. It scooped the International Engine of the Year award for its 1.5-litre three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid powertrain found in the revolutionary BMW i8.

Ford, which was looking to clinch the award for a fourth year running for its 999cc three-cylinder turbo EcoBoost motor, was beaten in a closely fought contest.

BMW was awarded the crown at the ceremony yesterday, at Engine Expo 2015 in Stuttgart. The awards are recognised as the industry’s top accolades for the world’s best powertrain technology, judged by a fully independent, international panel of 65 industry experts including Hormazd Sorabjee, editor, Autocar India, from 31 countries.

BMW’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid powertrain emerged as triple winner, also taking home the ‘New Engine’ award designed to mark the most important engine development in the last 12 months, and the 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre category.

The three-cylinder combustion engine in the BMW i8 develops 170 kW/231 hp and drives the rear wheels, while the 96 kW/131 hp electric motor draws its energy from a lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a conventional domestic power socket, and sends its power to the front axle. This bespoke plug-in hybrid system, developed and produced by the BMW Group, enables a range of up to 37 kilometres (23 miles) in the EU test cycle and a top speed of 120kphon electric power alone, coupled with a ‘glued-to-the-road’ all-wheel driving experience headlined by powerful acceleration and a dynamically-biased distribution of power through keenly taken corners. The sprint from 0 to 100kph takes just 4.4 seconds, yet combined fuel consumption – as calculated in the EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles – stands at 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres (approximately 135 mpg) plus 11.9 kWh of electricity. This equates to CO2 emissions of 49 grams per kilometre.

BMW also took the honours in the 2.5-litre to 3-litre category for its 3-litre twin-turbo six cylinder found the M3 and M4, in what proved to be a memorable night for the Munich-based company.

Despite missing the top spot, Ford did not leave empty handed. Its multi-award-winning 1.0 Ecoboost engine again took the Sub 1-litre category, bringing the engine’s total number of award wins to a staggering eight in just four years.

Mercedes-AMG took the 1.8-litre to 2-litre award with the 2-litre turbo found in the A45, CLA45 and GLA45 models, in a repeat of last year’s results. PSA Peugeot Citroën fought off a 44-strong field in the 1-litre to 1.4-litre category to win with its new 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo, its first solo venture engine project win in over ten years. The engine is found in a variety of cars, including the Peugeot 208 and 308, and Citroën C3, DS3, C4 Cactus, C4 and DS4.

Audi’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo, found in the new RS3 and RS Q3, took the 2-litre to 2.5-litre title for a sixth consecutive year, in a night that saw multiple return winners: Ferrari stormed to its fifth Performance Engine and Above 4-litre category awards win with its 4.5-litre V8 in the 458 Italia and 458 Speciale; competitor McLaren was not left empty handed either retaining the 3-litre to 4-litre award with its V8 turbo found in the 650S, 625C and 12C.