Engine of the Year Award 2009: Triple Victory with Four, Six and Eight Cylinders

LeMansX5 · #1 06-19-2009, 07:32 AM

Engine of the Year Award 2009: Triple Victory with Four, Six and Eight Cylinders. BMW Group Continues Story of Success in the World’s Most Significant Engine Contest.

18.06.2009 Press Release

Munich / Stuttgart. Scoring outstanding wins in the three categories of the International Engine of the Year Award, the BMW Group once again highlights its top position this year as a manufacturer of particularly powerful and, at the same time, efficient engines. In the world’s most significant engine contest, the V8 power unit featured in the BMW M3, the straight-six with Twin Turbo Technology to be admired, among other models, in the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 1 Series and the BMW X6, as well as the four-cylinder twin-scroll turbocharged engine in the MINI Cooper S, have all scored triumphant victories in their respective classes.

The Awards were presented on 17 June 2009 at the Engine Expo in Stuttgart.
This triple victory continues the BMW Group’s story of success in the International Engine of the Year Award. In this contest held since 1999 BMW engines have brought home overall victory no less than six times, including the four last years in a row.

This year’s three winners once again thrilled the jury through their fascinating development of power as well as their up-to-date efficiency. This combination of such superior virtues is the result of the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy characterising both the eight cylinder from BMW M GmbH, the straight-six from BMW, and the MINI four-cylinder.

In the engine category between 3.0 and 4.0 litres the V8 power unit featured in the BMW M3 successfully defended the title it had already won last year. Indeed, this 309 kW/420 hp 4.0-litre makes a substantial contribution to the success of BMW’s high-performance sports car in the market, now available in the guise of the BMW M3 Coupé, the BMW M3 Saloon, and the BMW M3 Convertible.

The 3.0-litre 225 kW/306 hp six-cylinder with Twin Turbo and High Precision Injection, in turn, this year dominates the engine category between 2.5 and 3.0 litres for the third time in a row.

Continuity has also been the name of the game in the engine category between 1.4 and 1.8 litres ever since the year 2007, with the 1.6-litre four-cylinder power unit in the MINI Cooper S with its twin-scroll turbocharger, direct gasoline injection and maximum output of 128 kW/175 hp still setting the standard.

The decisions on the International Engine of the Year Award are taken by an international jury made up of renowned motoring journalists. This year the team of no less than 65 experts came from 32 countries, awarding prizes in eight engine classes based on size and in three special categories, as well as the special award for the overall winner.
In the eleven contests held so far since 1999, the BMW Group has already brought home more than 40 trophies. This ongoing success in the world’s most significant engine contest is impressive proof of the BMW Group’s unique competence the world over in the area of powertrain development.

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vinuneuro · #2 06-19-2009, 07:50 AM

Damn straight. No one is even close to BMW in powertrain right now.

Viperfreak2 · #3 06-19-2009, 08:43 AM

Really? They are truly GREAT engines, but "The Awards were presented on 17 June 2009 at the Engine Expo in Stuttgart"

If they had been presented in Tokyo Japan? I think the V8 in the Lexus IS-F is the equal to the M3 engine, I think the 306 hp NON TURBO unit in the IS-350 is the equal of the twin turbo, and there are many 4 cyl units (Mazdaspeed 3, Subaru WRXSTi, Lancer Evo etc) that are in the Minis league.

If the award was presented (a few years back) in Russia? They would have named the Lada, Trabant, and Yugo engines as superior!

With the turbos, the BMW engines really are superior because you can increase the power easily, but that isn't what the awards are about.

AzNMpower32 · #4 06-19-2009, 09:05 AM

The judges are from all over the world, not just Germany. List here: International Engine of the Year Awards 2009. In fact, a LOT of them are from the US.

Looking at the awards for other catagories, the Germans clearly dominate. Their innovative use of technology in their motors produce a lot of power but also reduce consumption and CO² emissions, something of increasing importance. If anything, I'm most impressed at the 1,4 litre VW motor that's sitting in the EU-spec Golf because it produces 178PS through both a super-and turbo charger, while only consuming 6,2 l/100km. The Japanese have small displacement motors too, but they lack any oomph and sound buzzy when one thrashes it. As for American motors...........well our soft drinks are larger than 1,4 litres.

BMW may have gone astray (IMO) with the styling and the technology and whatnot. But I've never complained about their motors, which get better and better. (Okay, the N52B30 is a bit of a downer, but that's more of a US-emissions problem).

Viperfreak2 · #5 06-19-2009, 09:15 AM

Yeah, I read that.
The Awards are organised by Engine Technology International, published by UKIP Media & Events, which also publish a number of other automotive titles including Automotive Testing Technology International, Tire Technology International, Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International, Vehicle Dynamics International, Professional Motorsport World and European Automotive Components News. Hit our home page (www.ukipme.com) to discover more.

Seems like an organization that arranges awards for just about anything. I'm not saying it's not valid, just based in Europe. The internet is huge and I am sure there is also an international award for engines that favor other countries. I guess I'm always skeptical, it's the world we live in today. I rarely believe anything I see. Sad.

All the winning engines were from Europe, with the exception of the 1.0 L 3-Cylinder VVT-i in the
Aygo/IQ/Yaris/C1/107/Justy

SuperGreg · #6 06-19-2009, 08:32 PM

That's why I got my MINI...

FSETH · #7 06-19-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

Damn straight. No one is even close to BMW in powertrain right now.

I agree. Nobody even comes close as far as mass-produced engines are concerned. I don't know if this is completely accurate as it is from Wiki, but look at these numbers for International Engine of the Year winners;

FSETH · #8 06-19-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viperfreak2

I think the V8 in the Lexus IS-F is the equal to the M3 engine.

What!

With the turbos, the BMW engines really are superior because you can increase the power easily, but that isn't what the awards are about.

You are right, it isn't only about power. The TT inline 6 is so much more than that.

SANguru · #9 06-19-2009, 09:37 PM

interesting.. the 4.0 v8 in the m3 and the mini cooper S engine are nothing to write home about...The TT V8 is a much better motor... and only 2 wins for Ferrari??? they obviously haven't driven Ferrari's.

SuperGreg · #10 06-19-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SANguru

interesting.. the 4.0 v8 in the m3 and the mini cooper S engine are nothing to write home about...The TT V8 is a much better motor... and only 2 wins for Ferrari??? they obviously haven't driven Ferrari's.

MINI Rocks!

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