The 1.6-liter four cylinder with Twin Scroll Turbocharger and direct gas injection that shoulders itself under the hood of your MINI Cooper S has repeated last year’s win in the 1.4 to 1.8 liter class in the International Engine of the Year Awards. Only one engine had previously ever succeeded in repeating overall victory at the “International Engine of the Year Awards”: the 5-litre V10 high-revving engine employed in the BMW M5 Sedan, M6 Coupe and M6 Convertible, which received top honors in 2005 and 2006.
The awards, presided over since 1999 by a select group of international car journalists, have been keenly sought after by the world’s top engine manufacturers. This year the team of experts was comprised of 65 top journalists from 32 nations, including the USA, Japan, China, Russia, India, Germany, France, New Zealand, Korea and South Africa, Romania and Poland. Prizes are awarded for eleven categories as well to the winner of the overall rating. Interestingly, for the first time in the history of the competition, the title “Best New Engine of the Year” has been awarded to a diesel engine. The 204 hp four-cylinder diesel with Variable Twin Turbo is the world’s first full-aluminum diesel engine, delivering specific output of more than 100 hp per liter of displacement.
The award ceremony was held on May 7th during the “Engine Expo 2008” in Stuttgart.
