An unprecedented four awards including the coveted International Engine of the Year title
Fiat SpA has collected six awards in the “International Engine of the Year 2011” competition: an array of four victories for the revolutionary TwinAir engine by Fiat Powertrain and two for the 4,499 cc V8 engine powering the Ferrari 458 Italia.
The jury, consisting of 76 journalists and industry experts, from 36 different countries, not only decreed the success of the TwinAir engine in its own displacement category (less than 1,000 cm3), but actually elected it “International Engine of the Year 2011”, assigning it the top award in the competition. The TwinAir engine by Fiat Powertrain also won the “Best New Engine 2011” and “Best Green Engine 2011” awards.
An unprecedented triumph, added to the “Best New Engine 2010” award which the 1.4 MultiAir Turbo engine was awarded last year, confirming Fiat Powertrain’s leadership in developing and producing small displacement engines with a high technological content and low environmental impact.
Currently available in Europe in the 85 HP / 63 kW Turbo configuration on the Fiat 500/500C, the TwinAir will shortly also be launched on the market in the 65 HP / 48 kW aspirated version and in another high-performance 105 HP / 78 kW Turbo version, at the very top of the category in terms of specific power (120 HP/litre), as well as in the ecological 80 HP / 60 kW Turbo bi-fuel version.
The epitome of the downsizing concept, the efficient engines in the TwinAir family feature the sophisticated MultiAir technology for the smart management of the intake valves, which affords brilliant performance levels and, concurrently, extremely low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Members of the jury had some highly flattering comments to make about the TwinAir: “This is proof that aggressive downsizing need not spell timid performance. Surprisingly torquey, impressively and affordably efficient, this tiny twin also has plenty of character” – John Carey, Wheels, Australia.
“Four trophies in one year? A remarkable performance! TwinAir has written its place in the history of the International Engine of the Year Awards” – Dean Slavnich, Engine Technology International, UK.
The awards for the TwinAir engine were collected by Aldo Marangoni, Product Engineering Vice President and by Dario Sacco, Engines Platform Vice President. “Today’s success is the crowning moment of all our hard work in researching innovative technological solutions and designing increasingly efficient engines.
Our engines contribute towards sustaining the leadership position of Fiat S.p.A. in the rankings of the most eco-friendly car manufacturers” declared the managers of Fiat Powertrain at the end of the awards ceremony.
The award-winning TwinAir powerplant will make its South African debut in the Fiat 500 during the second half of this year.
(Fiat SpA has further reason to be proud following the two awards made to Ferrari and its V8 engine powering the 458 Italia model.
The awards, for Best Performance Engine and Best Engine above 4-litres, were collected by Jean Jacques His, Head of Ferrari Powertrain Department. In assigning the awards the jury also praised the 458 Italia’s engine for its unmistakable sound.)
