BMW has once again dominated the voting for the International Engine of the Year Awards, securing no less than six category wins, including the prestigious overall title of `International Engine of the Year 2008' for its outstanding 3.0 twin-turbo engine.
The 300hp BMW unit was one of seven engines to triumph in the awards that use turbocharging to achieve high output from smaller displacement engines, and thus use less fuel and producing less CO2.
Indeed, another BMW class-winner was its 2.0 diesel twin-turbo unit, which thanks to its frugality allied to 204bhp output, scooped the `Best New Engine of the Year'. Furthermore, the co-engineered BMW/PSA 1.6 turbo engine used in the Mini Cooper S, with a strong 175bhp, won the keenly contested 1.4 to 1.8 liter category.
Peter Langen, BMW's director of powertrain, who also witnessed his engines top the 3.0- to 4.0 and Above 4.0 categories, commented: "BMW views these awards as the highest industry recognition of our outstanding achievements in engine technology and manufacturing. It is an honor for our 3.0 twin-turbo engine to have secured the highest accolade for the second year running, and we are truly delighted that so many of our other engines have been judged as class-leading."
The Awards, which are judged by 65 motoring journalists from 32 countries on four continents, also rewarded a variety of other manufacturers for engine excellence across a number of different categories. The Volkswagen/Audi Group, Toyota, Porsche and Subaru were all worthy category winners.
Sadly, many of these powerful and efficient engines are currently unavailable to North American buyers, particularly the smaller motors that are so frugal on gasoline, in a time when fuel economy is of great concern.
International Engine of the Year Awards 2008: Winners
Porsche 3.6 liter Turbo | 
(911 Turbo, 911 GT2) | 
Volkswagen 1.4 liter TSI Twincharger |
(Golf, Touran, Tiguan, Jetta) | 
BMW/PSA 1.6 liter Turbo | 
(MINI Cooper S, Clubman, Peugeot 207, 308) |
(Audi A3, A4 Cabrio, A6, TT, VW Eos, Jetta, Golf GTI, Seat Altea, Leon, Skoda Octavia) | 
Volkswagen/Audi 2.0 liter Turbo | 
(135i, 335i, X6) |
BMW 3.0 liter Twin-Turbo | 
(M3) | 
BMW 4.0 liter V8 |
BMW 5.0 liter V10 | 
(M5, M6) | |