Engineering and design leadership are what Fiat is known for. Proof is all the awards Fiat has won over the years. Fiat holds the record for the most European Car of the Year awards and the Fiat 500 alone has more than 60 awards. Now you can add another award... actually add four. In the prestigious International Engine Awards competition, the Fiat TwinAir engine that comes in the European Fiat 500 won:
- International Engine of the Year 2011
- Best Engine Under 1 Liter
- Best New Engine 2011
- Best Green Engine 2011” awards
- Best Performance Engine
- Best Engine above 4-litres
Team Ferrari Driver, Fernando Alonso, driving a Fiat 500 TwinAir
Notable is last year, Fiat's 1.4L MultiAir Turbo won "Best New Engine 2010". With that, Fiat has joined BMW in becoming the only car maker in the history of the Awards to record back-to-back victories in the New Engine class. The 1.4L MultiAir Turbo will show up next year in the new North American Fiat 500 Abarth.
Popular commercial in Italy featuring Fernando Alonso
Here are the point results:
International Engine of the Year 2011
1. Fiat 875cc two-cylinder (Fiat 500) 372
2. Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (VW Polo, Golf, Scirocco, Eos, Jetta, Tiguan, Skoda Fabia RS, VW Touran, Seat Ibiza/Cupra, Alhambra, Audi A1) 346
3. Ferrari 4.5-litre V8 (458 Italia) 278
4. BMW 3-litre DI twin turbo (BMW 135i, M Coupe, 335i, 535i, X3 35i, X5 35i, X6 35i, Z4, 740i) 275
5. Audi 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo (Audi TT RS, RS3) 192
6. BMW M 4-litre V8 (M3) 159
7. BMW diesel twin turbo (123d, X1) 127
8. BMW 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo (Mini Cooper S, Countryman Cooper S, Mini Works, Clubman Works) 126
Best New Engine of the Year 2011
(Note how the Fiat TwinAir beats the hybrid Nissan Leaf powertrain)
1. Fiat 875cc two-cylinder (Fiat 500) 352
2. Nissan electric powertrain (Nissan Leaf) 161
3. Ford 1.6-litre turbo (Ford Focus, C-Max, Mondeo, Volvo S60, V60, V70, XC70, S80) 154
4. BMW diesel 2-litre (BMW 3 Eff. Dyn) 152
5. Porsche 3.6-liter Boxer turbo (Porsche GT2 RS) 111
6. McLaren 3.8-liter V8 (McLaren MP4-12C) 110
Green Engine of the Year
(Again, a big win over the Hybrid)
1. Fiat 875cc two-cylinder (Fiat 500) 258
2. Toyota 1.8-litre gasoline hybrid (Toyota Prius, Auris) 204
3. Nissan electric powertrain (Nissan Leaf) 185
4. Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (VW Polo, Golf, Scirocco, Eos, Jetta, Tiguan, Skoda Fabia RS, Seat Ibiza/Cupra, Audi A1) 184
5. Mitsubishi electric powertrain (Mitsubishi iMIEV, Peugeot iOn, Citroën C-Zero) 92
6. Volkswagen 1.2-litre TSI (VW Polo, Jetta, Touran, Golf, Seat Ibiza, Leon, Altea/XL/Freetrack, Skoda Fabia, Roomster, Octavia, Yeti, Audi A1, A3) 85
Best Engine Under 1 Liter
1. Fiat 875cc two-cylinder (Fiat 500) 479
2. Toyota 1-litre three-cylinder (Toyota Aygo, IQ, Yaris/Vitz, Peugeot 107, Citroen C1, Subaru Justy, Daihatsu Sirion/Boon) 257
3. Hyundai/Kia 998cc three-cylinder (Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto) 178
4. Smart diesel 799cc (Smart Fortwo) 141
5. Mitsubishi 999cc three-cylinder turbo (Smart Fortwo) 135
6. Opel 1-litre three-cylinder Twinport (Opel Agila, Corsa, Suzuki Alto, Splash, Opel Corsa, Chevrolet Spark) 120
About the Fiat TwinAir
The Fiat TwinAir is based on the concept of "downshifting"; achieving the power of a larger engine with a much smaller unit. We've seen this concept of turbocharging a smaller engine to achieve the horsepower of the larger engine before. What is new is the application of MultiAir, the technology that Fiat invented, that boosts torque output, fuel economy and drivability all while lowering emissions.
Previously, these smaller turbocharged engines would make good power when on boost, but suffer from a lack of torque at lower rpm when off boost, taking away from their drivability and driver enjoyment. MultiAir (which has been described as variable valve timing on steroids) boosts torque during these periods and truly enable the smaller engine to better match the larger engines drivability.
You can read more about the Fiat TwinAir here.
Expect to see this "downshifting" concept applied to future Fiat/Chrysler products here in this country. If we're lucky, maybe we'll even see the exciting 105hp TwinAir here in America!
Below is the Fiat SpA press release:
Triumph by Fiat and Ferrari at the “International Engine of the Year Awards”
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 the 85 HP Turbo configuration on the Fiat 500/500C and, soon, on the new Lancia Ypsilon, the TwinAir will shortly also be launched on the market in the 65 HP aspirated version and in another high-performance 105 HP 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 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.
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.
Stuttgart, May 18, 2011
Sources: Fiat SpA, UKIPME
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