Edit: BMW Retained the International Engine of the Year Title (check post #6)

[ateekt]

"Sicks" is the latter here, who dares...?

 

[Deleted member 25]

Well it's not jealousy we just demand logical and rational explanation

Passion doesn't need logic, but passion is a strange word for the Merc Empire.

 

[wltsm]

BMW's done well again, I wonder why anyone else even bothers to make engines, nothing comes close to BMW! (gone into ultra fan boy mode!)

 

[vedjo01]

BMW's done well again, I wonder why anyone else even bothers to make engines, nothing comes close to BMW! (gone into ultra fan boy mode!)

There is no need to be a fan boy to recognize BMW as greatest car engine maker of our time..

 

[Bilal]

Here are the rules... now this discussion might make a bit more sense.

RULES

Capacity Classes: To qualify for inclusion in the class categories listed below, an engine must have been housed in a passenger car that was on sale in more than one country as of 7 May 2008.
Sub 1-litre • 1-litre to 1.4-litre • 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre • 1.8-litre to 2-litre • 2-litre to 2.5-litre • 2.5-litre to 3-litre • 3-litre to 4-litre • Above 4-litre

Green Engine of the Year: To qualify for inclusion in this category (new to the Awards for 2008), an engine must have been housed in a passenger car that was on sale in more than one country as of 7 May 2008, have been designed with fuel economy as a priority, and employ intelligent technologies to reduce emissions (such as diesels with a DPF, hybrids, etc).

Best Performance Engine: To qualify for inclusion in this category, an engine must have been housed in a passenger car that was on sale in more than one country as of 7 May 2008, and have been designed specifically for a performance-orientated car, or be installed in a vehicle designed for sporting fun.

Best New Engine 2008: To qualify for inclusion in this category, an engine must have been launched after 9 May 2007 and be housed in a passenger car that was on sale in more than one country as of 7 May 2008.

International Engine of the Year 2008: The winners of the eight capacity classes are shortlisted for the International Engine of the Year crown.


SCORING
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, smoothness, performance, noise and drivability. The jurors each had 25 points to award to their five favourites in each category. A maximum of 15 points could be allocated to an engine, and the minimum was one point. An engine could not be tied for the top slot.

Still not convinced as to why the AMG engine did not win taking into account those factors.

 

[Zafiro]

What makes you say that? I know the Z06 is a great car in terms of performance/value but the engine is not THAT ground breaking. The whole package on the other hand is stunning.

LS7 V8 Engine

Inside every Z06 is an LS7 aluminum-block 7.0 Liter V8 that produces a Society of Automotive Engineers-certified 505 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. Hand-built at the GM Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., the LS7 engine contains a litany of racing-derived components, such as an eight-quart dry-sump lubrication system, titanium valves and connecting rods, forged-steel crankshaft with six-bolt main bearings, high-profile cam, and Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machined heads for better air/fuel flow. Even with its impressive performance, the engine does not incur a federal government gas-guzzler penalty.

no its not a complex engine and probably a lot cheaper to develop than M5 V10 engine. Thats what make it impressive. Still a competive engine today.

 

[Zafiro]

Still not convinced as to why the AMG engine did not win taking into account those factors.

if I remember correctly it was on the list last year, scoring points, although not as a winner.

 

[bmer]

All the categories and results:


Best New Engine of 2008

BMW 2-litre Diesel Twin Turbo (123d)


“Achieves the holy grail of modern motoring: economical, environmental and desirable”
Ken Gibson, The Sun
As well as BMW, the winner here was automotive innovation. The top six engines in this category included two twin-turbos (one petrol, one diesel), a V10 with 580bhp, the world’s first diesel boxer engine, and a fresh version of Volkswagen’s TSI.

The Bavarian auto manufacturer triumphed with what it claims is the world’s most powerful four-cylinder diesel engine. The key advantages of the 1,995cc over its predecessor are threefold and form the basis of BMW’s ‘efficient dynamics’ mantra: increased overall power, lower weight, and a reduction in emissions.

Helping to achieve these goals are a number of technologies that first appeared on this 2-litre engine’s bigger brother, the 272bhp twin-turbo 3-litre. These include an all-aluminium crankcase, third-generation common-rail fuel injectors, and a state-of-the-art diesel particulate filter. Like the 3-litre, this engine, codenamed N47D, sports both a large and small exhaust gas turbocharger, the latter operating at lower engine speeds, the bigger one being called upon when extra power is required.

Weight savings have been made largely thanks to a new engine design that helped to cut 17kg from the outgoing version. Arguably the biggest change was made to the intake ducts, which now have a larger diameter to aid the gas charge cycle, and are placed upright, fitting straight into the combustion chambers. The shape of said chambers has been refined, helping to realise a 16:1 compression ratio.

In a battle of pure performance versus technical innovation, the oil-burner kept the BMW M3’s V8 off the top, and also managed to receive credit from the predominantly diesel-free North American market. Automobile magazine’s Marc Noordeloos’ view was typical of the nine judges from the region that awarded points: “More than 100bhp per litre from a diesel? Forget the gasoline engine in your 1- or 3-Series – this is the powerplant to get.”

Complete results for Best New Engine of 2008:

1. BMW Diesel 2-litre Twin Turbo (123d) 257
2. BMW 4-litre V8 (M3) 218
3. Subaru Diesel 2-litre flat four Turbo (Outback) 201
4. Audi 5-litre V10 (RS6) 166
5. Nissan 3.8-litre Twin Turbo (GT-R) 147
6. Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI (Audi A3, Seat Leon, Altea, VW Golf, Eos, Jetta, Passat) 115



Green Engine of the Year 2008

Toyota 1.5-litre Hybrid Synergy Drive (PRIUS)

“The leader in delivering the most balanced combination of power, torque and low emissions”
Dan Vardie, Autoshow
Replacing the Best Fuel Economy category to reflect the advances in cleaner, more advanced powertrains, the first Green Engine of the Year Award goes to Toyota and its Prius. To qualify for this category, an engine must have been designed with fuel economy as a priority and feature technology to help cut emissions.

In a closely fought battle with BMW, the Japanese unit eventually triumphed over the Germans by a very small margin. The view of Greece’s Nikos Kounitis was shared by many of the jurors: “It’s still the greenest engine that the automotive industry can provide, and still unbeatable by any other concept.”

The Prius is already very familiar to Awards judges – this is the eighth trophy in five years that Toyota has picked up for the powertrain, which is testament to a concept that has spawned similar architectures in a range of vehicles in both the Lexus and Toyota stables around the world.

The petrol-electric combination found under the bonnet of the Prius is made up of a 1.5-litre engine complete with 76bhp that has been engineered to run on the Atkinson cycle, allowing both the compression and the expansion strokes to be independently set. A further 67bhp is provided between 1,200rpm and 1,540rpm by an electric motor. Helping to maximise the fuel economy are an electric-only mode that is operational at up to 48km/h as well as regenerative braking, which helps the Prius to record an efficiency rate of 32% compared with the 14% displayed by regular IC-engined cars.

As they continue to grow in importance, the CO2 figures of the Prius (104g/km) are nearly as impressive as the vehicle’s ability to meet the tough zero-emission standards of California. A total of 49 of the 65 judges awarded points to the Prius, including Horst Bauer of Austria’s Kurier who says, “The Prius is still the finest full hybrid concept that has made it to the customer.”


Complete results for Green Engine of the year 2008:

1. Toyota Hybrid 1.5-litre (Prius) 269
2. BMW Diesel 2-litre (118d, 318d) (Stop-start) 266
3. Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (VW Golf, Touran, Tiguan, Jetta (140/170bhp)) (small capacity, high output) 150
4. Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI (Audi A3, Seat Leon, Altea, VW Golf, Eos, Jetta, Passat (125bhp)) (small capacity, high output) 140
5. Fiat 1.4-litre Turbo (Bravo) (small capacity, high output) 108
6. Honda Hybrid 1.3-litre IMA (Civic) 101


Best Performance Engine

Porsche 3.6-litre Turbo (911 Turbo, 911 GT2)

“This turbo engine is a masterpiece of German automotive engineering”
Mohamed Sheta, Auto News Agency, Middle East Auto

So which automotive manufacturer produces the ultimate performance engine? In by far the most closely fought category in the International Engine of the Year Awards 2008, at one stage of voting, five engines were separated by just 10 points. It was essentially a case of Germany versus Italy versus Japan, the eventual winner being Germany – notably Stuttgart, not Munich – as Porsche followed up its maiden victory at the International Engine of the Year Awards in 2007 with a triumph with the same engine, the 3.6-litre Turbo, housed in the 911 Turbo and GT2 supersportscar.

While 420bhp sounds like plenty of power for a 911 Turbo, Stuttgart specialists have upped the power of the 3,600cc to ensure a massive 530 horses are on tap for pilots of the GT2. Such power is generated from a wealth of technology that appears on the engine. This Porsche turbo unit is the first of its kind to feature exhaust gas turbochargers, supplied by BorgWarner, with variable turbine geometry. Each row of cylinders has its own turbocharger, which in turn allows optimum charge flow through a full flow of exhaust gases.

The two intercoolers on board accommodate more compressed air thanks to a 10% larger diameter over the previous design, and an automatic waste valve is also deployed. The position of this valve within the housing of the exhaust gas turbocharger allows for a more compact package, thereby further increasing efficiency. Such examples of technology allow the engine in both guises to power the vehicle they are housed in to 100km/h in under four seconds, while a maximum speed of 310km/h and 329km/h can be attained from the Turbo and GT2 models respectively.

In total, 26 judges awarded points to the engine, among them Jake Venter from South Africa’s Car magazine, who enthused, “Very few turbocharged engines have been honed to such a state of perfection.”



Complete results for Best Performance Engine:

1. Porsche 3.6-litre Turbo (911 Turbo, GT2) 137
2. BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6) 134
3. BMW 4-litre V8 (M3) 133
4. Ferrari 6-litre V12 (599 GTB) 125
5. Nissan 3.8-litre Twin Turbo (GT-R) 124
6. Audi 5-litre V10 (RS6) 108



Sub 1-litre

Toyota 1-litre

“The most refined three-cylinder on the planet. Remarkably smooth and rev-happy”
Jake Venter, CAR, South Africa
The mantra ‘less is more’ is ringing true in the smallest engine segment at the International Engine of the Year Awards 2008, as environmental awareness becomes increasingly popular. Mitsubishi’s 84bhp 999cc three-cylinder turbo and Daimler’s 45bhp 799cc diesel unit have impressed the jurors once again, but the victor this year is Toyota’s Polish-made, 1-litre three-cylinder 67bhp gasoline unit as found in the Toyota Aygo, Yaris, Echo and Vitz, Citroën’s C1, Peugeot’s 107 and Subaru’s Justy. This victory marks a successful defence of the engine’s 2007 title.

Jurors appreciate the engine’s advanced Variable Valve Timing system (VVT-i), which optimises valve timing to deliver powerful torque at low-to-medium RPM for smooth acceleration (93Nm at 3,600rpm). They also admire the mini motor’s status as the lightest internal combustion engine in the world, with a weight of only 67kg, achieved through its all-aluminium construction, its extra-small cylinder bore-to-bore distance (wall thickness between bores is just 7mm), and its use of a resin throttle body and fuel delivery pipe. The air intake system and engine cover are integrated into a single unit, a design first for Toyota. Justifying his choice, judge Ken Gibson from the UK’s largest selling daily newspaper, The Sun, commented, “The Toyota unit is a good illustration of how small can be a lot of fun.”

The adoption of a new resin coating for the pistons, thin, low-tension piston rings, a slightly offset crankshaft and the three-cylinder configuration all contribute to a decrease in friction losses, ultimately leading to the segment’s lowest combined gasoline fuel consumption at 4L/100km and only 109g/km of CO2. The engine from the Japanese manufacturer is expected to play a strategic role in meeting the stringent 140g/km fleet CO2 target agreed for 2009.



Complete results for Sub 1-litre:

1. Toyota 1-litre 3-cylinder (Aygo,Yaris/Echo/Vitz, Citroën C1, Peugeot 107, Subaru Justy) 294
2. Smart Diesel 799cc (Smart Fortwo) 285
3. Mitsubishi 999cc 3-cylinder Turbo (Smart Fortwo) 197
4. Ford 1-litre Supercharged (EcoSport) 167
5. Opel/Vauxhall 1-litre 3-cylinder Twinport (Agila, Corsa, Suzuki Splash) 113
6. Kia 1-litre 4-cylinder (Hyundai Atos, Picanto) 76



1-litre to 1.4-litre

Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger

“This engine, ideal for powering affordable cars of the future, offers great performance”
Rogelio Rivera-Nava, Car and Driver Mexico
From the moment that Volkswagen’s TSI Twincharger technology burst onto the automotive scene in late 2005, it was clear to all that the technology was something special. The ability to equip a 1.4-litre engine with enough power to match a regular 2-litre was revolutionary and has since been followed by other downsized powerplants from the likes of Renault and Fiat.

Thanks to its TSI technology, Volkswagen has not only won this Awards category, but also finished runner-up with the lower-powered version of the unit, which omits the supercharger from the setup. The TSI engine boasts direct injection, enabling a very high compression ratio (10:1) to be achieved. Dan Vardie from Romania’s Autoshow magazine was one of the many judges taken by the concept: “A great achievement for small engines. Volkswagen deserves praise for delivering the right engine for a time in history that’s dominated by debate about CO2 and low consumption.”

The Twincharger’s major elements are an exhaust turbocharger and a mechanically driven supercharger that increases the boost pressure build-up of the exhaust turbo and fills the ‘hole’ in the torque at low revs. The turbo and the supercharger have a pressure rating of around 1.53 bar, and the maximum system boost pressure is set at 2.5 bar at 1,500rpm. This configuration helps the TSI to reach performance figures of 168bhp and 240Nm at 1,750rpm. The fuel consumption figures returned are quoted as 9.6L/100km (29.4mpg), compared with 10.6L/100km (26.6mpg) for Volkswagen’s 2-litre FSI, which is of comparable performance.

Other jurors to recognise the qualities of the TSI Twincharger are Italy-based freelance journalist Matt Davis, who commented, “This engine makes all drivers smile,” and Marc Noordeloos from the USA’s Automobile magazine: “Small displacement engines are the future and VW is ahead of the game.”

Complete results for 1-litre to 1.4-litre:

1. Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (VW Golf, Touran, Tiguan, Jetta (140/170bhp)) 340
2. Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI (Audi A3, Seat León, Altea, VW Golf, Eos, Jetta, Passat (125bhp)) 170
3. Fiat 1.4-litre Turbo (Bravo) 165
4. Fiat-GM Diesel 1.3-litre (500, Panda, Grande Punto, Idea, Doblò, Linea, Lancia Ypsilon, Musa, Opel/Vauxhall Agila, Corsa, Astra, Meriva, Tigra, Combo, Suzuki Ignis, Swift, Splash) 157
5. Honda Hybrid 1.3-litre IMA (Civic) 103
6. Renault 1.2-litre Turbo (Twingo, Clio, Modus) 99



1.4-litre to 1.8-litre

BMW-PSA 1.6-litre Turbo
“A great example of a small engine with huge potential and ideally suited to the cars it powers”
Farah AlKhalisi, 4car.co.uk

If proof were ever needed that engine collaboration between automotive manufacturers can succeed, BMW’s powertrain partnership with PSA Peugeot Citroën is a perfect example, spawning the award-winning 1.6-litre turbo unit.

Winner of the same International Engine of the Year Awards category in 2007, when it narrowly beat the 1.5-litre Toyota Prius, BMW and PSA’s four-cylinder has dominated the class this year, collecting 136 more points than its closest rival, the 1.8-litre TFSI Audi engine that powers a plethora of VW Group products.

Riding high on the growing trend of combining power with downsized powertrains, the 1,598cc unit had plenty of judges waxing lyrical, including Nikos Kounitis from Greece’s 4Wheels magazine, who commented that he thought the motor represented “downsizing at its best”. Dan Vardie from Romania’s Autoshow added, “This is one of the first small engines able to deliver performance normally found in bigger engines. Two engine experts combine to create a robust, powerful and efficient petrol engine.”

Constructed from light alloy, the heart of the Mini Cooper S, Peugeot 207 and 308 features a twin-scroll turbocharger, gasoline direct injection, twin overhead camshafts, roller-type drag arms that have been optimised for minimum friction, and hydraulic valve play compensation elements. Furthermore, the outlet valves are filled with sodium to aid cooling, and the intake camshaft offers infinite phase adjustment, setting the engine’s valve timing to the driver’s requirements.

All this technology brings together power and economy in one appealing package for consumers: 175bhp at 5,500rpm and 260Nm of torque maintained from 1,600 to 5,000rpm is complemented with an average fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km (40.9mpg). “It’s full of technology, and is the best in its class for torque, power and pleasure,” concludes France’s Christophe Congrega.

Complete results for 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre:

1. BMW-PSA 1.6-litre Turbo (MINI Cooper S, Clubman, Peugeot 207, 308) 333
2. Audi 1.8-litre Turbo FSI (A3, A5, Seat Leon, Altea, Toledo, Skoda Octavia, Volkswagen Passat) 197
3. Toyota Hybrid 1.5-litre (Prius) 182
4. Mercedes-Benz 1.8-litre Supercharged (C, SLK, CLK, E) 121
5. Toyota 1.8-litre four-cylinder VVTL-i 190 (Lotus Elise 111R) 82
6. Honda 1.8-litre (Civic, Stream, FR-V) 75



1.8-litre to 2-litre

Volkswagen/Audi 2-litre Turbo FSI
“Set to establish an even greater dynasty than its 1.8-litre predecessor”
Brian Cowan, freelance

This category produced one of the closest fights ever in the history of the International Engine of the Year Awards. Volkswagen/Audi’s 2-litre Turbo FSI won the 1.8- to 2-litre class by more than 100 points in 2007, the third year in a row that it had come out on top. But in 2008, the unit, which is found in many different vehicles across the Volkswagen Group, faced a strong challenge from two new diesel powerplants: Subaru’s groundbreaking Boxer and BMW’s acclaimed 2-litre twin-turbo unit.

When all the votes had been counted, however, the defending champion triumphed once again, scraping home just two points ahead of the BMW engine installed in the 123d. New jury member Nikos Kounitis summed up the dilemma: “On one hand we had the exceptional TFSI; on the other was the best diesel, BMW’s new twin turbo. I really appreciated the diesel, but decided to stick to the gasoline engine because its smoothness and adaptability in any vehicle remains unbeatable.”

A pioneer of the current trend for turbocharged, downsized motors, the 2-litre Turbo FSI was developed by engineers at Audi before making its debut in the Golf GTi. Since then, the engine has proliferated both in terms of outputs and applications, ranging from 165bhp (Audi A6), through numerous Volkswagens, Audis, Seats and Škodas (197bhp), all the way up to the 272bhp variant in the Audi TTS.

Along with this versatility, a winning blend of power, torque, fuel economy and low emissions is key to the popularity of the 2-litre Turbo FSI. The 197bhp version in the Audi TT, for example, makes a punchy 280Nm of torque across a wide band of 1,800-5,000rpm, yet consumes only 7.7L/100km (36.7mpg) on the EC combined cycle, with a CO2 output of just 183g/km.

It is all-round performance like this that prompted Awards judge Frank Markus to dub it, “The little engine that could make four cylinders aspirational in terms of performance and fuel economy.”


Complete results for 1.8-litre to 2-litre:

1. Volkswagen/Audi 2-litre Turbo FSI (A3, A4 Cabrio, A6, TT, Eos, Jetta, Golf GTi, Škoda Octavia, Seat Altea, Leon) 256
2. BMW Diesel 2-litre Twin Turbo (123d) 254
3. Subaru Diesel 2-litre flat four Turbo (Outback) 196
4. Mitsubishi 2-litre four-cylinder Turbo (Evo X) 105
5. Honda 2-litre four-cylinder i-VTEC (Civic Type R) 97
6. Honda 2-litre four-cylinder (S2000 (Europe/Asia)) 67



2-litre to 2.5-litre

Subaru 2.5-litre Turbo (Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback)

“This powerful, fun-to-drive engine justifies Subaru’s persistence in boxer engines”
Nikos Kounitis, 4Wheels

Few automotive manufacturers have given more to the boxer engine cause than Subaru. The past 12 months alone have seen engineers from the Japanese manufacturer introduce two brand new concepts to the world stage that make use of the flat cylinder formation: a 3-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, and the world’s first boxer diesel with 150bhp.

But the 65 judges on the International Engine of the Year Awards 2008 committee have bestowed a trophy on a different flat-four unit, and one that has triumphed in this category before. When it replaced the 2-litre turbo in 2006, this 2,457cc engine scooped first prize in the 2-litre to 2.5-litre category, beating BMW’s 2.5-litre straight six by two points. Fast-forward two years, and the same two engines are locked in battle for mid-range powertrain supremacy, and the outcome is the same – only the winning margin is down to a single point.

Subaru’s victory was no doubt helped by the engine’s boost in power when housed in the Impreza STi – from 277bhp to 320bhp – but judges were equally impressed with the performance of the 2.5-litre turbo in the Forester, where it pushes out a mere 230bhp. Technology alterations made to this engine to add to the appeal include turbine wheel and compressor impeller shape to improve low-end and mid-range torque and improved turbocharger and intercooler.

This DOHC four-cylinder powers the standard Impreza to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds, and the STi reaches that point in 4.8 seconds. Aside from the obvious performance, the engine offers impressive fuel economy, with EU combined cycle figures of 10.9L/100km (25.9mpg) for the STi and 10.3L/100km (27.4mpg) for the standard Impreza.

One juror quick to praise the unit was Christophe Congrega from L’Automobile Magazine: “A 2.5-litre boxer full of torque and power.”


Complete results for 2-litre to 2.5-litre:

1. Subaru 2.5-litre flat four Turbo (Forester, Impreza) 188
2. BMW 2.5-litre 6-cylinder (Z4, X3) 187
3. Honda Diesel 2.2-litre (Civic, Accord (Europe), CR-V, FR-V) 145
4. Mazda 2.3-litre GDI Turbo (3MPS, 6MPS, CX-7, MPV) 118
5. Peugeot-Citroën-Ford Diesel 2.2-litre (Citroën C5, C6, C8, Lancia Phedra, Peugeot 407, 607, 807, Citroën C-Crosser, Land Rover Freelander, Mitsubishi Outlander, Peugeot 4007) 107
6. Toyota Diesel 2.2-litre D-CAT (Avensis, Corolla Verso, RAV4, Auris, Lexus IS220d) 90



2.5-litre to 3-litre

BMW 3-litre Twin Turbo (135, 335, X6)

The combination of high torque, more than 300bhp and the sound make this engine great”
Christophe Congrega, L’Automobile Magazine

It’s a second straight category victory for the highest-output version of BMW’s latest inline six family, the 306bhp, 400Nm, turbocharged powerplant. And as last year, the engine’s triumph is decisive, winning by 137 points more than its twin-turbo diesel stablemate, which repeated its runner-up finish of 2007.

According to BMW engine development engineer Andreas Welter, this 3-litre six “behaves like a 4-litre, eight-cylinder, normally aspirated engine – with lower weight and smaller dimensions”. BMW says the weight saving over an unblown eight-cylinder unit of comparable power could be as much as 70kg. Add the benefit of direct injection to the mix and the result is a high-performance motor that pays more than just lip service to the environmental Zeitgeist.

Materials technology also plays its part in the engine, achieving its performance and economy goals. In addition to the complex aluminium/magnesium castings that feature across all of BMW’s new-generation straight sixes, the twin turbochargers of the category-winning powerplant feature high-temperature-resistant materials from the aerospace industry. The turbines themselves are made from a special steel that can handle temperatures of up to 1,050°C. “Increasing the temperature resistance of the blades to reduce the fuel required for cooling the exhaust gas shows good use of available technology,” observed jury member Schalk Pienaar of South Africa’s Wiel magazine.

Drivers might never see the technology under the bonnet, but they can certainly feel the benefits, as other judges queued up to point out. “The best combination of high power and smoothness in a sporty package,” commented Italian journalist Massimo Nascimbene of La Repubblica. “With its clever turbocharging system, this engine goes like a real race-bred machine,” added Gábor Szécsényi from Hungary’s Autó2.

Complete results for 2.5-litre to 3-litre:

1. BMW 3-litre Twin Turbo (135, 335, X6) 375
2. BMW Diesel 3-litre Twin Turbo (335d, 535d, X3 ,635d, X5) 238
3. Audi/Volkswagen Diesel 3-litre V6 (A4, A5, A6, Allroad, A8, Q7, Touareg, Phaeton) 145
4. Porsche 2.7-litre flat six (Boxster, Cayman) 119
5. BMW 3-litre six-cylinder (325, Z4, 330, 530, 630, 730) 88
6. Jaguar Diesel 2.7-litre V6 Twin Turbo (XF) 85



3-litre to 4-litre

BMW 4-litre V8 (M3)

“More powerful engines cannot even match the beautifully balanced Bavarian V8”
Jeroen Jongeneel, De Telegraaf

Throughout the 10-year history of the International Engine of the Year Awards, there has been only one occasion – last year – when BMW did not top this category. After Porsche’s triumph with its 3.6-litre Turbo in 2007, a rather special motor from BMW has arrived on the scene and taken the trophy back to its spiritual home of Munich.

The victor here is the replacement for one of the International Engine of the Year Awards’ most successful winners, the 3.2-litre straight six that was designed for the E46 M3, and that lives on today in BMW’s Z4 M. For the 2007MY M3, Helmut Himmel, the man responsible for all M engine project management, decided early on that the car would be powered by an eight-cylinder unit. The result, S85B40, is a lesson in advanced engine engineering, both in terms of the materials used and production technologies adopted, as well as an ECU that can process more than 200 million calculations a second via three onboard microchips.

This upgraded version of the ECU found on the award-winning V10 in BMW’s M5 and M6 is just one example of how the V8 offers even more technology than its bigger brother. Double VANOS continuously variable intake and exhaust cam adjustment has been carried over, although it requires no high pressure oil arrangement due to lower torque stresses. The V10’s single chain drive is superseded by a double chain affair connecting the crankshaft and sprocket, which is connected to the camshaft by a step motor.

The 3,999cc engine is also a masterpiece in terms of packaging. Although it carries an additional two cylinders, the V8 tips the scales at 2kg less than the old M3 six-cylinder, and is over 30mm shorter.

But power is arguably the biggest marker of a true M3 unit, and the V8 does not disappoint. Figures of 420bhp at 8,300rpm and 340Nm of torque help the M3 to lap the legendary Nordschleife in eight minutes and 20 seconds.

Complete results for 3-litre to 4-litre:

1. BMW 4-litre V8 (M3) 331
2. Porsche 3.6-litre Turbo (911 Turbo, GT2) 255
3. Nissan 3.8-litre Twin Turbo (GT-R) 144
4. BMW 3.2-litre 6-cylinder (Z4 M) 99
5. Toyota Hybrid 3.5-litre V6 (GS450h) 88
6. Audi 3.6-litre FSI (Q7, VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne) 71



Above 4-litre

BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6)

“Maybe not the most politically correct, but this V10 can’t help but bring a smile to your face”
Graham Johnson, UKIP Media & Events

Featuring some familiar entrants, the Above 4-litre category at the International Engine of the Year Awards 2008 sees BMW triumph for the fourth year in a row. It may have lost out to Porsche in the Best Performance Engine category, but the 5-litre has held off competition from Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG, the latter jumping from fifth in 2007 to runner-up this year.

The win here makes the 4,999cc powerplant the most successful in Awards history, passing its 3.2-litre inline six stablemate from the previous generation M3. With its nine trophies so far in four years, there is no reason why more accolades should not be bestowed on the V10.

Technology plays a key role in the success of the 90° vee engine, which is in soft- and hard-top versions of the M6, as well as estate and saloon versions of the 5-Series-based M5. The engine was the first to demonstrate bi-VANOS variable valve timing, and those 10 flow-optimised intake trumpets.

Weight-saving measures adopted to maximise performance on the 507bhp, 520Nm engine include compact, 5mm shaft valves and one-piece, four-valve aluminium cylinder heads. Spherical valve tappets with hydraulic valve play and single valve springs are also used effectively.

Away from the physical properties of the engine, production techniques ensure that passengers can rocket from zero to 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds. The cylinder crankcases are cast using a low-pressure gravity die method and made of hypereutectic aluminium-silicon alloy, and coated with iron for added strength. The combined effect of these factors ensure the V10 weighs nearly the same as its V8 predecessor.

The fact that the engine’s blocks are cast in the same factory as those for the company’s Formula 1 cars, as well as the obvious technological links with motorsport, is justification for Motor Trend’s Frank Markus to conclude that, “Formula 1 power has arrived in the grand touring class.”

Complete results for Above 4-litre:

1. BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6) 218
2. Mercedes-AMG 6.2-litre (C, CLK, E, CLS, S, SL, ML, R) 183
3. Ferrari 6-litre V12 (599 GTB) 172
4. Lexus Hybrid 5-litre V8 (LS600h) 109
5. Audi 4.2-litre V8 FSI (S4, S5, A6, A8, Q7 RS4, R8) 108
6. Ferrari 4.3-litre V8 (F430) 80

 

[justanthony]

Lol. Mercedes is really lagging a bit in engine stakes.

 

[Mr Robert]

3-litre to 4-litre

BMW 4-litre V8 (M3)

But power is arguably the biggest marker of a true M3 unit, and the V8 does not disappoint. Figures of 420bhp at 8,300rpm and 340Nm of torque help the M3 to lap the legendary Nordschleife in eight minutes and 20 seconds.

Great background research by the author.

 

[martinbo]

Go Subaru. They make a fraction of the engine derivatives that BMW does and they still manage to win a category albeit by a measly point. A fine effort...

 

[SCOTT27]

When it comes to diesels, sportier character is not the prime concern for BUYERS. Refinement and consumption is. Mercedes is superior in these respects. Mercedes has Bluetech, to which BMW has no response, and if the just released 2litre (which I doubt was evaluated by this award ) is anything to go by, will have even more impressive numbers. The new MB 2 litre easily outclasses the numbers of the equivalent BMW, and bodes well for the bigger variants on the way.

I'm not disputing BMW is king of petrol engines (though this is also debatable lol but let’s not go there) but MB is no slouch when it comes to diesels.

What I realllly want to do is have a test drive of the 3 litre twin turbo BMW engine. By all accounts it’s amazing. I need to go the the BMW dealer and pretend I'm in the market for 335i.

When the annoucement of Blue-tech was first made BMW were to partner Mercedes-Benz in using this technology . But whe n compared to the current BMW diesel powered engines. BMW found Bluetech to not be a very good partner for it's dynamically aspected products which is why BMW then went and worked on their advanced diesel programme with Blue performance themselves to find a perfect partner for the attributes associated with BMW.