BMW wins International Engine of the Year

The new BMW X6 features the award-winning 3-litre twin turbo petrol engine

BMW has scooped the 2008 International Engine of the Year award with its twin-turbo 3-litre petrol engine.

The 3-litre twin-turbo unit – as seen in the BMW 135i, BMW 335i, and the new BMW X6 – won the headline award at this year’s ceremony, held in Germany.

BMW rounded off the awards ceremony by scooping up six trophies from twelve categories, including the Best New Engine of 2008 for the BMW 123d, and the 3-litre to 4-litre category for its 400bhp 4-litre V8 engine used in the new BMW M3.

View more pictures of the BMW M3

And the 507bhp 5-litre V10 engine used in the BMW M5 and the BMW M6 – which has been around for three years – scooped the ‘above 4-litre’ category.

The twin-turbocharged 3-litre petrol engine develops 306bhp and uses a number of technological aids to help efficiency, including brake energy regeneration.

This engine - which marks the second year in a row BMW has won the International Engine of the Year award - helps propel the BMW 135i coupe from 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds – as quick as the previous generation BMW M3 – and onto a top speed of 155mph.

Car history: BMW M3

A total of 65 motoring journalists from around the globe voted for the twelve categories, picking out winners from manufacturers including Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen.

View more pictures of the new BMW X6

The winners of the 2008 International Engine of the Year awards are:

Best New Engine of 2008     
BMW 2-litre Diesel Twin-Turbo (123d)    

Green Engine of the Year
Toyota 1.5-litre Hybrid Synergy Drive (Prius)                                                     

Best Performance Engine     
Porsche 3.6-litre Turbo (911 Turbo, 911 GT2)                           

Sub 1-litre
Toyota 1-litre (Aygo, Yaris, Peugeot 107, Citroën C1, Subaru Justy)    
                                
1-litre to 1.4-litre       
Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (Golf, Touran, Tiguan, Jetta)

1.4-litre to 1.8-litre
BMW-PSA 1.6-litre Turbo (MINI Cooper S, Clubman, Peugeot 207, 308)                

1.8-litre to 2-litre       
Volkswagen/Audi 2-litre Turbo (A3, A4 Cabrio, A6, TT, Eos, Jetta, Golf GTi, Seat Altea, Leon, Skoda Octavia)        

2-litre to 2.5-litre               
Subaru 2.5-litre Turbo (Forester, Impreza, Outback, Legacy)  

2.5-litre to 3-litre
BMW 3-litre Twin-Turbo (135, 335, X6)

3-litre to 4-litre
BMW 4-litre V8 (M3)                                                                                               

Above 4-litre
BMW 5-litre V10 (M5, M6)                         

International Engine of the Year 2008
BMW 3-litre Twin-Turbo (135, 335, X6)