Green car technology is expected to take the ‘International Engine of the Year’ awards by storm this year.
Last year’s winner, BMW, renowned for its Efficient Dynamics technology and for its range of class-leading green cars, has a fight on its hands to achieve a record-breaking fifth consecutive International Engine of the Year title. The German marque, which has scooped more trophies for engine excellence than any other company in the Awards’ 11-year history, faces tough competition from over 60 new entrants to the Awards in 2009.
Expected to fare well in this year’s awards are the brand-new hybrid entries of Toyota’s 1.8-litre Prius and the Honda 1.3-litre Insight. Previous generations of both engines took the overall International Engine of the Year title in years past. These green candidates will be pitched against the less environmentally-considerate Porsche new direct-injection engines as well as Jaguar’s advanced 5-litre supercharged V8.
Strong contenders for BMW’s crown also come from its chief rival, Daimler, with its new Mercedes diesel engines and small-capacity, supercharged petrol units having already received tremendous praise from the world’s motoring press. Other competition comes from Renault’s smooth, powerful, yet frugal new 3-litre V6 diesel, and from the USA in the form of GM’s 6-litre Cadillac hybrid.
The results of the International Engine of the Year Awards 2009 will be decided by a panel of 65 renowned automotive journalists from 32 countries and will be announced at Engine Expo, held in Stuttgart 16, 17, 18 June 2009.
