“The single most innovative engine technology to appear in the last 12 months” – that was the rousing proclamation of the Fiat 1.4l Multiair Turbo, which has scooped the title of Best New Engine of 2010.
Part of the International Engine of the Year Awards, the engine was selected thanks in part to its electrohydraulic system that independently controls each cylinder’s inlet air charge. This means that, depending on the driving situation, there are five main modes of inlet valve timing and lift, with MultiAir enabling variable control of the inlet valves.
Its system allows for increases in both power and torque while also reducing fuel consumption and harmful emissions. According to Fiat Powertrain Technologies, compared to a traditional petrol engine of the same displacement, a MultiAir unit can offer 10 per cent more power, 15 per cent more torque and yet improve fuel economy by up to 10 per cent and reduce emissions such as CO2 by 10 per cent, particulate matter by 40 per cent and nitrogen oxides by 60 per cent.
The company now plans to roll out the MultiAir across several engine families.
Meanwhile, the Green Engine of the Year Award went to Toyota for the 1.8l Atkinson-cycle unit that is a feature of the new Prius and the Auris. The remaining award winners were:
- Best Performance Engine – Mercedes-AMG 6.2litre.
- Sub one litre – Toyota three-cylinder one litre.
- One litre-1.4 litre – Volkswagen 1.4litre TSI Twincharger.
- 1.4litre-1.8litre – BMW-PSA 1.6litre Turbo.
- 1.8litre-two litre – BMW two litre twin-turbo diesel.
- Two litre-2.5litre – Audi 2.5litre five-cylinder Turbo.
- 2.5litre-3.0litre – BMW three litre DI Twin-Turbo.
- Two litre-Four litre – BMW 4litre V8.
- Above four litre – Mercedes AMG 6.2litre.
