Fiat TwinAir engine wins 2011 International Engine of the Year Awards

The International Engine of the Year awards was decided upon by a jury of 76 journalists and industry experts from 36 different countries, and they rewarded Fiat’s innovative TwinAir engine with four honours, “Best New Engine 2011”, “Best Green Engine 2011”, “Best Sub 1-Litre Engine” and the “International Engine of the Year 2011” overall award.

The TwinAir powerplant, in its current guise, is a turbocharged petrol unit that produces 85bhp, and is fitted to the Fiat 500 and 500C superminis, as well as the upcoming Lancia Ypsilon hatchback. Fiat is planning to introduce a naturally aspirated version that produces 65bhp, along with another high-performance turbocharged version with 105bhp. There will also be an eco-friendly Turbo bi-fuel version that produces 80bhp.

“Fiat has now produced one of the all-time great engines,” said Dean Slavnich, editor of Engine Technology International and co-chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards. “Who would have thought that a two-cylinder unit could have won the International Engine of the Year title when we launched the Awards in 1999? Its triumph is a clear signal that less is more: people want low-emission, fuel-efficient yet powerful engines, and just two cylinders certainly seems to provide a comprehensive solution!”