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Ford triple top engine for 2012

Ford and BMW were the biggest winners in the 2012 International Engine of the Year Awards with Ford’s hotshot little turbo triple scooping the coveted overall title.

Presented by Engine Technology International magazine, for 2012 the jurors were required to consider a blend of new technology and performance; and powertrains using advanced designs, materials and components.

Smaller displacement engines again fared well – as seen in the scrap between 2012’s overall winner and 2011’s top engine: the 875cc two-cylinder turbo from Fiat.

NO TIES, SORRY

The 14th edition of the awards saw 76 motoring journalists from 35 countries score the engines that must have been used in a passenger car (including SUVs and MPVs) and on sale in more than one country from June 2012.

The jurors each had 25 points to award to their five favourite engines in each category. A maximum of 15 points and a minimum of one could be allocated to an engine and, crucially, no engine could be tied for the top spot.

According to the organisers, one of the highlights of the 2012 contest came in the Performance Engine category where new developments from BMW’s M division went head-to-head with engines from McLaren, Porsche and last year’s winner, the 4.5-litre V8 used by Ferrari. 

TRIPLE SCORES TREBLE

But the surprise package of the year was Ford’s new 999cc EcoBoost engine that scooped the Best New Engine and Best Engine under 1litre awards, along with the overall title with 401 points.

Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards and editor of Engine Technology International magazine said: “This is a fitting victory for a truly remarkable engine.

“For a three-cylinder to power a vehicle like the Ford Focus with such ease proves that the future is very, very bright for the internal combustion engine. Power, response and very good real-world fuel consumption figures are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this engine and what it offers drivers today. Well done Ford!”

Wheels24 will be driving the winning 1litre in a Ford Focus later in June, 2012.

2012 International Engine of the Year:
Ford 999cc three-cylinder turbo (Ford Focus)
Best new engine:
Ford 999cc three-cylinder turbo (Ford Focus)
Green engine:
GM 1.4-litre range extender (Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera)
Performance engine:
Ferrari 4.5-litre V8 (Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider)

CATEGORY WINNERS
Sub 1-litre:

Ford 999cc three-cylinder turbo (Ford Focus)
1 - 1.4litre:
Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (VW Polo, Beetle, Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Cabriolet, Scirocco, Eos, Jetta, Tiguan, Sharan, Touran/Cross Touran, Passat CNG, Touran/Cross Touran CNG, Audi A1, Audi A3, SEAT Ibiza FR, Alhambra, Cupra, Škoda Fabia RS)
1.4 - 1.8litre:
BMW-PSA 1.6-litre turbo petrol
(Mini Cooper S, Clubman Cooper S, Countryman Cooper S, Coupé/Roadster Cooper S, Mini Cooper Works, Clubman Cooper Works, Coupé/Roadster Cooper Works, Peugeot 207, 207cc, 208, 308, 308cc, 3008, 508, 5008, 308 GTI, RCZ, Citroën DS3, C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso, C5, DS5, DS5, DS3 Racing, DS4, DS4 Racing)
1.8 - 2litre:
BMW 2-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder petrol (BMW 125i, 320i, 328i, 520i, Z4 20i, Z4 s Drive 28i, X1 20i, X3 20i, X1 28i)   
2 - 2.5litre:
Audi 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo (Audi TT RS, RS3 Sportback)   
2.5 - 3litre:
BMW 3-litre bi-turbo six-cylinder petrol (BMW 1 Series M Coupé, 335is, Z4 35is)  
3 - 4litre:
BMW M 4-litre V8 (BMW M3 Coupé, M3 Convertible) 
Above 4litre:
Ferrari 4.5-litre V8 (Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider) 





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