It was a little over a year ago when BMW took home the coveted 2015 International Engine of the Year award. Bagging top honors was the ultra-high-tech 1.5-liter three-cylinder hybrid that powered the sporty yet efficient i8 sports car.
But that was last year. For 2016, a new set of winners has been announced in Stuttgart. And the top prize is bestowed on a new horse. Well, a Prancing Horse, to be precise. The 2016 International Engine of the Year is the 3.9-liter biturbo V8 under the shapely hood of the Ferrari 488 GTB.
Displacing a 'mere' 3,900cc, this seemingly smallish lump (for a Ferrari) puts out a mighty roar to the tune of 670hp at a rev-happy 8,000rpm and 760Nm at 3,000rpm. This makes it possible for the 488 GTB, as well as its Spider sibling, to run from rest to the century mark in just three seconds, before hitting a terminal velocity of 330kph.
Looking past the numbers, we actually understand why the judges chose this powerplant for the highest honor. This masterpiece, for one, is put together by hand. So you can just imagine the craftsmanship that goes into every part of the motor. And that is a rarity in today's mega-factories where robots rule the production floor. No wonder it ran away with 331 points versus the runner-up, last year's Engine of the Year winner, BMW's 1.5-liter three-pot, which got 278 points.
Here is the complete list of this year's winners:
2016 INTERNATIONAL ENGINE OF THE YEAR
Winner - Ferrari 3.9-liter biturbo V8 (488 GTB), 331 points
Runners-up - BMW 1.5-liter three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid (i8), 278 points; Porsche 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo (911 Carrera, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4S), 267 points; PSA Peugeot Citroen 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo (Peugeot 208, 308, 2008, 3008, 5008; Citroen C3, C3 Picasso, C4 Cactus, C4, DS3, C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso, DS4), 180 points; Ford 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo (Fiesta, B-Max, Focus, C-Max, Grand C-Max, Fiesta Red/Black, Mondeo, EcoSport, Tourneo Connect/Courier), 157 points; Mercedes-AMG 2.0-liter turbo (A45 AMG, CLA45 AMG, GLA45 AMG), 136 points; Ferrari 6.3-liter V12 (F12tdf), 107 points; Audi 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo (RS3, RSQ3), 94 points
BEST NEW ENGINE
Winner - Ferrari 3.9-liter biturbo V8 (488 GTB), 340 points
Runners-up - Volvo 2.0-liter supercharged electric-gasoline hybrid (XC90, S90), 204 points; Porsche 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo (911 Carrera, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4S), 174 points; Honda 2.0-liter turbo (Civic Type R), 110 points; Ford 2.3-liter turbo (Focus RS), 104 points; Porsche 4.0-liter Boxer (911 GT3 RS), 99 points
BEST PERFORMANCE ENGINE
Winner - Ferrari 3.9-liter biturbo V8 (488 GTB), 311 points
Runners-up - Ferrari 6.3-liter V12 (F12tdf), 94 points; Porsche 4.0-liter Boxer (911 GT3 RS), 77 points; Mercedes-AMG 4.0-liter biturbo V8 (GT, GT S, C63 AMG, C63 S AMG, G500), 73 points; BMW 1.5-liter electric-gasoline hybrid (i8), 72 points; Porsche 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo (911 Carrera, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4S), 58 points
BEST SUB 1.0-LITER ENGINE
Winner - Ford 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo (Fiesta, B-Max, Focus, C-Max, Grand C-Max, Fiesta Red/Black, Mondeo, EcoSport, Tourneo Connect/Courier), 348 points
Runners-up - Volkswagen 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo (Golf, Up, Polo), 223 points; BMW 647cc two-cylinder electric-gasoline range extender (BMW i3), 164 points; General Motors 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo (Opel Adam, Corsa, Astra), 122 points; Fiat Chrysler 875cc two-cylinder turbo (Fiat 500, Panda, 500L, Punto, Alfa Romeo Mito), 96 points; Renault-Nissan 898cc three-cylinder turbo (Renault Clio, Captur, Twingo, Dacia Sandero, Logan MCV, Smart Fortwo, Forfour), 71 points
BEST 1.0-LITER TO 1.4-LITER ENGINE
Winner - PSA Peugeot Citroen 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo (Peugeot 208, 308, 2008, 3008, 5008, Citroen C3, C3 Picasso, C4 Cactus, C4, DS3, C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso, DS4), 228 points
Runners-up - BMW 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo (Mini One), 174 points; Volkswagen 1.4-liter TFSI electric-gasoline hybrid (Golf GTE, Passat GTE), 154 points; Fiat Chrysler 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo (Fiat 500, 500L, 500X, 124 Spider, Punto, Alfa Romeo Mito, Giulietta, Dodge Dart, Jeep Renegade), 108 points; Volkswagen 1.4-liter TFSI (Beetle, Touran/Cross Touran, Sharan, Golf, Passat, Scirocco, Jetta, Golf Cabriolet), 102 points; Volkswagen 1.4-liter TFSI ACT (Golf, Polo), 91 points
BEST 1.4-LITER TO 1.8-LITER ENGINE
Winner - BMW 1.5-liter three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid (i8), 260 points
Runners-up - BMW 1.5-liter turbo (BMW 116i, 118i, 218i, 218i Active Tourer, 318i, X1 18i, Mini Cooper, Clubman Cooper, Clubman One), 152 points; Audi 1.8-liter TFSI (A1, A3, A5, A6), 125 points; Toyota Lexus 1.8-liter electric-gasoline hybrid (Toyota Auris/Corolla, Prius, Lexus CT200h), 103 points; BMW PSA Peugeot Citroen 1.6-liter turbo (BMW 114i, 320i, Mini Countryman Cooper S, Paceman Cooper S, Countryman Cooper Works, Paceman Cooper Works, Peugeot 208, 308, 508, 3008, 5008, 208 GTI, 308 GT, Citroen DS3, DS3 Racing, DS4, C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso, DS5), 94 points; Mercedes-Benz 1.8-liter turbo (A160, B160, C160, A180, CLA180, B180, GLA180, A200, CLA200, B200, GLA200, C180), 54 points
BEST 1.8-LITER TO 2.0-LITER ENGINE
Winner - Mercedes-AMG 2.0-liter turbo (A45 AMG, CLA45 AMG, GLA45 AMG), 229 points
Runners-up - Audi 2.0-liter four-cylinder TFSI (S1, TT, TT S, S3, A4, A5, A6, A7, Q3, Q5), 188 points; Volvo 2.0-liter supercharged electric-gasoline hybrid (XC90, S90), 174 points; Porsche 2.0-liter turbo (718 Boxster), 123 points; Volvo 2.0-liter supercharged four-cylinder (S60, S90, V60, XC60, XC90), 109 points; BMW 2.0-liter twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel (X1 16d, 316d, 118d, 218d, 318d, 518d, X1 18d, 318d Gran Turismo, 120d, 220d, 520d, 520d Gran Turismo, X1 20d, 125d, 425d, 525d, 225d, 320d, X3 18d, X3 20d, X4 20d, X5 25d, Mini Cooper SD, Clubman Cooper SD, Countryman Cooper SD, Paceman Cooper SD, Clubman Cooper D, Countryman Cooper D, Paceman Cooper D), 91 points
BEST 2.0-LITER TO 2.5-LITER ENGINE
Winner - Audi 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo (RS3, RSQ3), 307 points
Runners-up - Porsche 2.5-liter turbo (718 Boxster S), 204 points; Ford 2.3-liter turbo (Focus RS), 164 points; Mazda 2.2-liter diesel (3/Axela, 6/Atenza, CX-5), 100 points; Mercedes-Benz 2.1-liter electric-diesel hybrid (C300 Hybrid, E300 Hybrid, S300 Hybrid), 97 points; Ford 2.3-liter turbo (Mustang), 88 points
BEST 2.5-LITER TO 3.0-LITER ENGINE
Winner - Porsche 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo (911 Carrera, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4S), 252 points
Runners-up - BMW M 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder (M3, M4, M4 GTS, M2), 203 points; BMW 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder (M135i, 235i, 340i, 440i, 640i, 740i, 335i Gran Turismo, Z4 35i, 535i, X3 35i, X4 35i, X5 35i, X6 35i, Z4 35is, X4 M40i), 178 points; BMW M Performance 3.0-liter tri-turbo diesel six-cylinder (M550d, X5 M50d, X6 M50d), 137 points; Jaguar Land Rover 3.0-liter V6 Supercharged (Jaguar F-Type, F-Pace, XE, XF, XJ, Land Rover Discovery 4, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport), 104 points; Volkswagen 3.0-liter six-cylinder TDI (Audi A4, A6, A7, A8, Q5, SQ5, Q7, Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Panamera, Macan S Diesel, Cayenne), 86 points
BEST 3.0-LITER TO 4.0-LITER ENGINE
Winner - Ferrari 3.9-liter biturbo V8 (488 GTB), 395 points
Runners-up - Mercedes-AMG 4.0-liter biturbo V8 (GT, GT S, C63 AMG, C63 S AMG, G500), 206 points; Porsche 4.0-liter Boxer (911 GT3 RS), 141 points; Porsche 3.8-liter Boxer (911 Carrera GTS, 911 GT3), 125 points; McLaren 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 (675LT), 122 points; Porsche 3.8-liter Boxer turbo (911 Turbo, 911 Turbo S), 115 points
BEST ABOVE 4.0-LITER ENGINE
Winner - Ferrari 6.3-liter V12 (F12tdf), 227 points
Runners-up - Audi 5.2-liter V10 (Audi R8, Lamborghini Huracan), 161 points; Mercedes-AMG 5.5-liter V8 turbo (E63 AMG, CLS63 AMG, GLE63 AMG, E63 S AMG, CLS63 S AMG, GLE63 S AMG, GLS500, S63 AMG, SL63 AMG, G63 AMG), 124 points; BMW M 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 (M5, M6, X5M, X6M), 110 points; Lamborghini 6.5-liter V12 (Aventador, Veneno), 85 points; General Motors 6.2-liter V8 Supercharged (Corvette Stingray Z06, Camaro ZL1), 82 points
BEST GREEN ENGINE
Winner - Tesla Full Electric powertrain (Model S, Model X), 256 points
Runners-up - BMW 1.5-liter electric-gasoline hybrid (i8), 176 points; Volvo 2.0-liter supercharged electric-gasoline hybrid (XC90, S90), 97 points; BMW Full Electric powertrain (i3), 87 points; Ford 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo (Fiesta, B-Max, Focus, C-Max, Grand C-Max, Fiesta Red/Black, Mondeo, EcoSport, Tourneo Connect/Courier), 69 points; Porsche 3.0-liter electric-gasoline plug-in hybrid (Panamera PHEV, Cayenne PHEV), 61 points
