Fiat Powertrain’s new TwinAir engine is the 2011 International Engine of the Year.
A jury of 76 motoring journalists and industry experts from 36 different countries also voted the two-cylinder TwinAir engine Best Sub 1-Litre Engine 2011, Best New Engine 2011 and Best Green Engine 2011.
Taking the title, it beat four BMW engines, two VW/Audi engines and even the 4.5-litre V8 that powers the Ferrari 458 Italia, although the Ferrari engine did take the Best Performance Engine and Best Engine above 4.0-litres awards.
In the New Engine category, the jurors deemed TwinAir to be superior to the Nissan Leaf’s electric powertrain, the Porsche 911’s Turbo boxer engine and the McLaren MP4-12C’s V8.
It follows in the footsteps of Fiat Powertrain’s 1.4 MultiAir Turbo which took the Best New Engine award last year.
Currently available with 85hp in the Fiat 500 and (shortly) the new Chrysler Ypsilon, a normally-aspirated 65hp version and a high-performance 105hp derivative of TwinAir will be launched soon.
Ireland’s jury member Padraic Deane, MotorShow Magazine, described the engine as 'Simplicity meets perfection – the time for a new generation of small, dynamic and frugal internal combustion engines has arrived'.
