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2006 International Engine of the Year
Heart of the matter
Words by Ulysses Ang
BMW's 5.0-liter V10 named this year's best automotive engine
They say it's the engine that makes or breaks a car. Like the patty in a burger or the processor in a PC, this is ultimately what a car buyer looks for. But what makes a good engine? Beyond the number of valves, cylinders, cams and other oily bits, what sets apart one V6 from another? This is where the International Engine of the Year Awards comes in.
The annual Oscars of automotive engineering is organized by UKIP Media & Events, Britain's largest automotive tech publication group. A panel of motoring journalists from 29 countries, including the US, Japan and Germany, choose the powerplant that offers the best combination of drivability, performance, economy and refinement. To qualify, an engine must be housed in a passenger car that has been on sale in more than one country as of May 10, 2006.
There are eight categories based on displacement: above 4.0-liter; 3.0- to 4.0-liter; 2.5- to 3.0-liter; 2.0- to 2.5-liter; 1.8- to 2.0-liter; 1.4- to 1.8-liter; 1.0- to 1.4-liter; and sub-1.0-liter. There are also three special categories: Best Fuel Economy, Best Performance Engine and Best New Engine.
Best New Engine / Best 1.0-to 1.4-liter Engine
VOLKSWAGEN 1.4-LITER TSI TWINCHARGER
Like many of Volkswagen's other engines, the TSI Twincharger is based on the company's direct-injection petrol technology. However, unlike them, the TSI Twincharger employs an exhaust turbocharger and a mechanically driven supercharger. Before the turbo kicks in, the FSI works with the supercharger offering gobs of low-end torque. When the turbo kicks in at 2,400rpm (3,500rpm during heavy acceleration), the supercharger is depressurized by a bypass valve while the turbo kicks in. This enables the 1.4-liter to squeeze out 119hp per liter—figures close to impossible with single-stage supercharging.
Aside from power, the TSI Twincharger also enabled Volkswagen to reduce engine displacement without sacrificing performance (168hp, 240Nm of torque). It's noteworthy that VW's own 2.0-liter FSI makes 20hp and 40Nm less. The TSI Twincharger manages to return 10.41km/L—a very commendable figure considering the jump in performance.
Best Fuel Economy / Best 1.4- to 1.8-liter Engine
TOYOTA 1.5-LITER HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE
For three straight years, Toyota's full gasoline-electric hybrid system has garnered the award for best fuel economy. And with its win in the 1.4- to 1.8-liter category, it notches trophy number eight for Toyota's hybrid system in the annual awards.
In the Prius, the Synergy drive offers 32 percent better efficiency than a comparable petrol engine. The key is an electric motor that takes over during mundane tasks such as idling in traffic. It can also work with the petrol engine—hence, the name Synergy—to boost the Prius' highway abilities. It increases the 76hp output by 67hp under full load, combined with a jaw-dropping 400Nm of torque from idle all the way to 1,200rpm.
The Synergy drive also manages to return around 23.80km/L during tests in Europe and the US. Aside from the wonderful real-world performance and fuel economy, the Synergy Drive also meets California's strict ATPZEV (Zero Emissions) standard, producing a mere 104 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer in town and 99 grams on the highway.
Toyota has started offering different variants of this technology in its passenger car (including its flagship Lexus LS sedan) and SUV lines.
Best Sub-1.0-liter Engine
HONDA 1.0-LITER IMA
The story for Honda's 1.0-liter IMA engine is nothing short of fantastic. It bests the competition for the seventh straight year in this category. It also won International Engine of the Year in 2000.
Part of the winning formula is the ultra-thin brushless electric motor that gives additional energy to the 68hp, 90Nm in-line-3 engine. The motor boosts output to 76hp and 113Nm, helping the Insight reach an impressive top speed of 180kph.
Best 1.8- to 2.0-liter Engine
VOLKSWAGEN 2.0-LITER FSI TURBO
The main appeal of the 2.0-liter FSI Turbo engine is that it powers a lot in the Volkswagen line—from the Golf GTi to the Audi A4, from the Seat Leon to the Skoda Octavia. The flexibility in the application of the engine certainly appealed to the jurors since it is suitable for luxury sedans, mainstream cars, even sports coupés.
Apart from the obvious use of a turbocharger, the four-cylinder FSI engine was reworked to develop 200hp (peak) and 280Nm of torque. Variable valve timing and a Bosch Motronic MED 9.1 electronic control unit were also added.
Best 2.0- to 2.5-liter Engine
SUBARU 2.5-LITER FLAT-4 TURBO
Replacing Subaru's renowned 2.0-liter flat-4 paid off with the company's first-ever International Engine of the Year honor. The new 2.5-liter unit, found in the Forester and the Impreza, impressed everyone with its ultra-balanced layout, plus Subaru's own version of variable valve timing. The end result is an engine with 227hp on tap (277hp in WRX STi trim). Despite the heavy lean toward performance, the boxer engine still manages to return a very commendable 9km/L.
Best 2.5- to 3.0-liter Engine
BMW 3.0-LITER TWIN TURBO DIESEL
BMW managed to remain a firm favorite with this, its combination of relentless torque and surprising economy in its diesel-fed 3.0-liter straight-6 engine. Though the complex packaging meant that BMW hadn't utilized the engine apart from the 535d, it didn't stop the jurors from realizing the potentials.
The configuration itself is a winner: a straight-6 engine, one of the most balanced engine layouts, with two sequential BorgWarner turbos—something the company got from its Dakar Rally X5. While most other engines only have performance or economy, the BMW diesel engine has them both.
Best 3.0- to 4.0-liter Engine
BMW 3.2-LITER STRAIGHT-6
With the launch of the much-anticipated BMW Z4 M and M Coupé, the company has once again proven that its 3.2-liter straight-6 still has no equal. This win is its eighth straight class win—making it the most successful BMW engine in the International Engine of the Year Awards. A wealth of technology sits underneath the covers: double variable valve timing (intake and exhaust), graphite-coated aluminum pistons, a 32-bit engine management system. All in all, it was chosen because of the linearity and aural quality that it generates.
Like BMW's own 5.0-liter V10 engine, its 3.2-liter engine broke the 100hp-per-liter barrier—with 343hp and 365Nm on tap.
International Engine of the Year / Best Performance Engine / Best Above-4.0-liter Engine
BMW 5.0-LITER V10
There are few engines that have had such a dramatic impact in such a short time as the BMW 5.0-liter V10 engine. Fifty-one out of 61 judges deemed it the winner, recognizing its unique blend of power, performance and technology.
Its win means that the powerplant of the M5 and M6 has garnered a total of six International Engine of the Year wins. The 90-degree V angle design allows lower positioning under the hood of the M5 and the M6.
Generating 507hp and 520Nm of torque, this engine has broken the 100hp-per-liter barrier without the use of forced induction. Each cylinder has its own throttle valve—something pioneered in F1. The BMW M5 and M6 can reach 100kph in just 4.7 seconds. This year also marks the second straight performance engine award for the Munich-based manufacturer. It has managed to obliterate its rivals, including Ferrari's 4.3-liter V8 and BMW's own 3.2-liter in-line-6.
All in all, the 5.0-liter V10 engine makes the M5 and the M6 virtual sports cars on the open road due to the powerplant's lightning response, limitless revs and great soundtrack.
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Top Gear Philippines - September 2006
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