Originally posted by funkedup
Who gave that award and for what engine? In terms of power per unit displacement and reliability they are good but not the best. And obviously they are expensive motors.
Expensive? BMW325i start at $27,100, thats cheaper than Lexus, Mercedes, Volvo or other luxery class autos in the same classification
What engine(s)? 2.5-3.0 liter class, the 3.0-4.0 liter class, and the 4.0 and above liter class.
Ref:
http://www.ukintpress.com/engineoftheyear/categories.htmlHere's the award report:
International Engine of the Year AwardBMW walked off with the International Engine of the Year Award, and would have done so even if its main contender hadn't been considered, because the Munich company also provided the overall runner-up. In fact, as well as taking the Best New Engine of 2001 prize, BMW won three of the other ten classes in the competition, and in most of the remaining ones it wasn't represented anyway, not being in the appropriate market sectors.
The presentation dinner on June 20 was held, ironically enough, in Stuttgart, home of BMW's principal rival. There were no gongs this year for Mercedes-Benz.
A panel of 38 motoring writers from Europe, North America, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand took part in the voting, which was organised by Engine Technology International. They gave the rousing 343bhp BMW M3 engine 156 points, with the 1.8-litre Valvetronic engine from BMW's Hams Hall plant in the Midlands runner-up on 140. That ingenious new design will be seen in the 316ti Compact, soon to go on sale.
Third, on 135 points, was the Volkswagen Group 1.4 TDI pump injector turbo diesel, as available in the Polo, Lupo, Audi A2 and Seat Arosa. A score of 126 points gave fourth place, and the one-litre class win, to the three-cylinder Honda IMA engine fitted to the hybrid Insight. It also took the fuel economy award.
Ferrari's 5.5-litre V12, used in the 456M and the 550 Maranello, was judged best engine over four litres.
BMW's classic and now versatile straight-six design used in the Z3, 330, 530 and X5 model ranges - saloons, roadsters and 4x4s - won the three-litre class.
The 2.5-litre prize went to the new PSA particulate-filter 2.2-litre HDi turbo diesel available in the C5, 406 and 607. Honda's super-high-revving S2000 sports car engine, able to sweep easily past 9000rpm, took the two-litre award.
Saab picked up the Best Concept prize for the very ingenious SVC variable compression ratio engine, claimed to combine the power of a three-litre with the economy of a 1.6.
BMW 3-litre (Z3, 330, 530, X5) 162
BMW diesel 2.9-litre (330d, 530d, X5) 149
Mercedes-Benz diesel 2.7-litre (C-Class, E-Class, ML) 85
Honda 3-litre V6 (Accord Coupé, Odyssey, NSX) 66
Subaru 3-litre (Legacy Outback) 60
Volvo 2.8-litre (S80 T6) 57
See a slight disparity between the points on BMW's top two contenders and MB?
