BMW dominates the International Engine of the Year Awards

BMW has dominated the 2006 International Engine of the Year Awards held at the annual Engine Expo in Stuttgart, winning the Best Performance Engine and International Engine of the Year for the second year running with its 5-litre V10. The Bavarian car maker also won awards for its Z4 M 3.2-litre (3-litre to 4-litre ) and twin-turbodiesel 3-litre (2.5-litre to 3-litre )in this year’s competition, and hence took ALL awards for engines greater than 2.5 litres, giving it a total of five trophies. The unit saw tough competition from the likes of Volkswagen’s new 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (which won Best New Engine) and the previous IEOY title holder, Toyota’s 1.5-litre Hybrid Synergy Drive Prius, which in 2006 also won the 1.8-litre and the Fuel Economy categories. Subaru picked up its first ever gong in the 2-litre to 2.5-litre category for its 2.5-litre Turbo engine used in the Impreza and Forester models and Saab’s 9-2X.

The IEOY awards are judged by a panel of 61 motoring journalists from 29 countries, the Awards highlight and acknowledge underhood engineering excellence. In every category, the panelists judged each shortlisted engine using their subjective driving impressions and technical knowledge, and took into account characteristics such as fuel economy, noise, smoothness, performance and driveability. The jurors each had 25 points to spend on their five favourite engines in each class. The maximum points that could be allocated to one engine was restricted to 15, while the minimum reward was one mark. An engine could not be tied for the top slot.

Juror Frank Markus from America’s Motor Trend magazine said of the BMW V10: “A technological tour de force, and about the closest one can come to buying a Formula One engine for the road”, while Japan-based automotive freelancer Peter Nunn commented, “The BMW V10 is a masterclass in exhilarating power, sound, response and brilliant packaging that comes as standard.”

2006 WINNERS

Best New Engine 2006: Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (Golf) Best Fuel Economy: Toyota 1.5-litre Hybrid Synergy Drive (Prius) Best Performance Engine: BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6) Sub 1-litre: Honda 1-litre IMA (Insight) 1-litre to 1.4-litre: Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (Golf) 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre: Toyota 1.5-litre Hybrid Synergy Drive (Prius) 1.8-litre to 2-litre: Volkswagen 2-litre Turbo (Golf, Audi A3, A6, SEAT Leon, Skoda Octavia) 2-litre to 2.5-litre: Subaru 2.5-litre Turbo (Impreza, Forester, Saab 9-2X) 2.5-litre to 3-litre: BMW 3-litre Twin-Turbo Diesel (535d) 3-litre to 4-litre: BMW 3.2-litre (M3, Z4 M) Above 4-litre: BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6) International Engine of the Year 2006: BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6)

2005 WINNERS

Best New Engine: BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6) Best Fuel Economy: Toyota 1.5-litre Hybrid Synergy Drive (Prius) Best Performance Engine: BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6) Sub 1-litre: Honda 1-litre IMA (Insight) 1-litre to 1.4-litre: Fiat-GM 1.3-litre Diesel 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre: Toyota 1.5-litre Hybrid Synergy Drive (Prius) 1.8-litre to 2-litre: Volkswagen 2-litre FSI Turbo (Golf GTi, Audi A3, A4) 2-litre to 2.5-litre: Honda 2.2-litre Diesel (Accord, CR-V, FR-V) 2.5-litre to 3-litre: BMW 3-litre Twin-Turbo Diesel (535d) 3-litre to 4-litre: BMW 3.2-litre (M3) Above 4-litre: BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6) International Engine of the Year 2005: BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6)

2004 WINNERS

Best New Engine: Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive Best Fuel Economy: Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive Best Performance Engine: Mercedes-AMG 65 (S65, CL65) Sub 1-litre: Honda 1-litre IMA (Insight) 1-litre to 1.4-litre: Honda 1.3-litre IMA (Civic) 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre: Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive 1.8-litre to 2-litre: Honda 2-litre (S2000) 2-litre to 2.5-litre: BMW 2.5-litre (325i, X3, 525i Z4) 2.5-litre to 3-litre: Mazda RENESIS Rotary (RX-8) 3-litre to 4-litre: BMW 3.2-litre (M3) Above 4-litre: Volkswagen 5-litre V10 TDi (Touareg, Phaeton) International Engine of the Year 2004: Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive

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