VW tops Engine of the Year awards
June 19, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Volkswagen has ended BMW’s four year reign to score top place at this year’s International Engine of the Year Award.
The brand’s innovative 1.4-litre four-cylinder TSI engine accumulated 354 points from 65 judges to secure first place.
In a close battle, the Volkswagen beat the 2007-08 champion, BMW’s 3.0-litre twin tubo six-cylinder engine, by just four points (350 points in total) before a somewhat larger gap to third place getter Audi and its 2.0-litre TFSI unit on 220 points.
“It was an easy choice,” said international motoring journalist Peter Robinson. “TSI combines outstanding refinement with terrific performance and low consumption and emissions.”
The top eight winners this year were as follows:
- Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharged (354 pts)
- BMW 3.0-litre DI Twin-Turbo (350 pts)
- Audi 2.0-litre TFSI (220 pts)
- Mercedes-Benz 2.1-litre TD Blue (203 pts)
- BMW 4.0-litre V8 (203 pts)
- Mercedes-Benz (AMG) 6.2-litre (114 pts)
- BMW-PSA 1.6-litre Turbo (107 pts)
- Toyota 1.0-litre (74 pts)
Print it: 
I wonder what the longevity of these engines will be like, high revvers and a turbo, not always an issue, every 100000 klm needs a turbo, wait and see.
bloody Germans lol
I disagree with you Paul Doubya. I think these engines will be strong, frugal and reliable. That’s why VW use/invent them. To say turbos need replacing every 100k is totally untrue. In fact its crazy speak. Also, do you think the people who award these prizes know nothing about engines?
I see these awards are run by germans in germany…
If it was a Kosher award, the new GTR engine would have recieved a award.
Also a electric-engine out of that US built vehicle.
And the new Chrysler V6 Pentastar
Finally, what about the latest supercharged V8 engine out of Corvette the lap-record-holder for TheNurg.
**Sorry, these awards are a crock, maybe its meant to be awards for german made engines?**
Greatest engine invention to be released this year [so i suppose will be next in years award?] is the FPV MultiAir, that my friends is GENIUS technology, 10 years work and billions of dollars and its out [finally] 3rd quarter this year, a landmark design, now for ULP will be diesel in the near future
Cheers,
F-0
FrugalOne you must go to website http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/judges.html and as you can see 66 judges come from 32 different countries. 10 from USA and 4 Germany…etc. In the Above 4 – liter category 5th is Corvette with 70 points.
Those with phobias relating to technology, change and new order can always fall back on the Holden 202 red six for comfort.
Germans sure know how to build engines that’s for sure…
I have no doubt the new supercharged and turbocharged engines will be very reliable and nothing like the memories of performance cars in the past needing a new turbo every 100k or so.
ALAS, seems like the general feeling and comments is as PER MINE!
“Coincidentally, all but one of the categories was taken out by a German car maker, which does sound a bit fishy especially when the event is held in Stuttgart, the home of Mercedes which scooped a quarter of the awards”
http://www.carsales.com.au/new.....gain-15516
F-0, is right and 100% correct,,,,,,,AGAIN!
Cheers
F-0
@ Paul Doubya – Modern turbo chargers in engines such as the TSI run at such low boost they don’t wear like the rougher, higher boost turbos of old. It’s not so much a case of strap a hairdryer onto an engine to make it go fast, it’s more to do with incorporating the turbo/super charger into the engine as a whole. VW is showing us the future of engines here. Expect to see a lot more low capacity, economical twin charging from here on in. A rightly deserved award.
I dont think Germany and the automotive industry is as corrupt as you make them out to be. Has it ever occured to you that maybe they’re just good at what they do?
The V6 GTR engine is terribly thirsty so thats probably why it wasnt mentioned.
Brilliant German Engineering
Pity the VR6 is not on the list lol.
VW made such a big step forward in recent years, with technologies like TSI and DSG.
No wonders Volkswagen is on the top. They build eceptional engines! Just pure……..wonderfull!
Where’s the ‘world class’ Ecotec V6? Or is it called the Alloytec?
Horses for courses Holden bashing Realist.
I bet the Alloytech like other Ozzie sixes past and present can see at least 400,000klms before a overhaul.
Brilliant tech these tiny motors with seamless performance with super/turbo chargers. Wonder what the spend will be on servicing medium/long term?
Not as wealthy as u Realist so these things important to me.
An award well deserved! Many, but not all, Japanese engines should be awarded the longetivity award then, because they don’t seem to get much creditation for inovation even though some are innovative with their hybrid drive systems.
A highly efficient combustion engine is one if the main criteriors in this assessment, not just engine power delivery and refinment. So until the judges begin assessing the whole drive system hybrids won’t be included. Many of you readers may think hybrids are boring, but wait until Ferrari and Lamborghini make it cool, because Toyota is certainly not cool enough to do that.
Golfschwein Says:
June 19th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
“Those with phobias relating to technology, change and new order can always fall back on the Holden 202 red six for comfort.”
Hey Golfy, that might not be the best engine to recommend to old skoolers – don’t forget those old 202 reds have a tendency to blow pistons to a million pieces. I remember accelerating hard in mum’s HJ many years ago, to merge onto a highway, next thing BANG! goes number 4! lol
Yes and back in 1975 the old holden Red six would outlast any German engine of that era 2:1 and cost about 1/5 the cost to rebuild when it eventually died.
Falcon BARRA I6 up there with the best of them.
Let the advertisements begin…
Theres no doubting that the Turbo/Supercharging technology employed by VW is a winner with economy/power vs displacement output.
But lets not forget that it wasn’t the Germans that invented this technology but the Italians (Fiat Group) back in the mid eighties which first used this clever configuration to produce the most outrageous rally car of all time.
Lancia Delta S4 Group B(1.8 4cyl Turbo/Supercharged AWD) with approx 550-600HP with a spaceframe chassis and weighing just 960kg….0-100KM/H 2.7 Secs on gravel or 0-200KM/H in 7 Secs flat.
Lancia did sell 400 road going examples for homologation which fetch big $$$ today for car collectors and enthusiats.
So yes the Germans did introduce this technology to the wider masses and deserve the credit for the initiative but let’d not forget where the idea generated from.
These awards are based on reviewing the motors for a short period of time and the panel easily get impressed by an extra 0.1KW per litre.
Long term reliability and duration are not taken into account. These VW motors have both superchargers and turbochargers, more things to go wrong. Despite improving fuel economy a tweeny bit with the turbo+supercharger combo, a replacement turbocharger or supercharger will set you back a few grand $$ each. I would take these awards with a grain of salt.
Observer Says:
“But lets not forget that it wasn’t the Germans that invented this technology but the Italians (Fiat Group) back in the mid eighties which first used this clever configuration to produce the most outrageous rally car of all time”
Before you go making bold statements you should check your facts. I found this after a 2 min search on wikipedia, “The turbocharger was invented by Swiss engineer Alfred Büchi. His patent for a turbo charger was applied for use in 1905.[1] Diesel ships and locomotives with turbochargers began appearing in the 1920s.
The first production turbocharged automobile engines came from General Motors in 1962.”
“
I’m waiting for VW to apply the twincharger to the 2.0 engine and plonk it into the GTI. K04 or next size Turbo with the supercharger should provide 300kw and 600nm ….
Come on VW – DO IT…
Could I slot one of these straight into the back of a VW Beetle ?
Now that would be fun.
@AAA
A tweeny bit of fuel savings? come on fella. The 1.4 twin charger puts out the same power and torque of a 2.5L natural. A natural 2.5 will use 8.5-9L/100klm, the VW uses 6.3-6.5 (depending on use of DSG or not). From a VW point of view, a 2.5 uses around 40% more fuel to do that 100klm.
Valid point about cost of replacing chargers though. VW ownser can opt for the additional optional warranty – making a total of 6 years/175000 klm. Although, lets not forget, this same engine has been around since it was put in the Golf GT 4 years ago – haven’t heard any inherent problems so far.
Jerry
Just Brilliant, well done VW.
In the Golf 5 GT brouche it states the engine has been tested to last at least 300,000 kilometres, a respectable number for such a high force inducted little engine.
I`m not sure where the technology originated from but the one thing I do know is, the Germans have certainly perfected it.
WOW…Germans and Japs but no Americans or Aussie engines.
…Man..Im soo suprised…
Cool,nice engine but i wonder how it would fair in prolonged,hot dry and dusty outback conditions????Do they have deserts in germany???Maybe one for the latte sucking city folk.
VW Freak Says:
June 19th, 2009 at 7:39 pm – Hey Golfy, that might not be the best engine to recommend to old skoolers – don’t forget those old 202 reds have a tendency to blow pistons to a million pieces. I remember accelerating hard in mum’s HJ many years ago, to merge onto a highway, next thing BANG! goes number 4! – What a complete load of crap.
Oneill3, you did not read Observer’s post. It was not the invention of the turbo charger being quoted, it is the combination of the turbo and supercharger on the same engine which is being attributed to the Italians.
yes vw is the best
Check out the 24 hour Le man’s record for the most wins by Porsche 16 times. Audi won 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 now that’s German engineering. They may not be good in sending men to the moon but they sure can build cars.