If you don’t think downsized engines with turbochargers are the wave of the future, just ponder the results of the 2013 International Engine of the Year voting.
Almost 90 automotive journalists from 35 countries decided that the Ford 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder EcoBoost is the winner for the second straight year. The turbocharged EcoBoost scored 479 points to beat out the Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI TwinCharger engine with 408 points. Rounding out the voting for Engine of the Year were BMW 2.0-liter twin-turbo I4 (247 points), Porsche 2.7-liter DI (245), Ferrari 6.3-liter V12 (233), BMW/PSA 1.6-liter turbo (197), McLaren 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 (180) and Audi 2.5-liter I5 (111).
Only three other engines have captured the honor in successive years: BMW 5.0-liter V10, BMW 3.0-liter twin-turbo and Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI TwinCharger. The voting is sponsored by Engine Technology International magazine.
Actually displacing 999cc, the EcoBoost won the Sub-1-liter class by 228 points over the Fiat 875cc 2-cylinder turbo. Finishing third was the Volkswagen 999cc 3-cylinder engine.
The 1.0-liter EcoBoost is rated at 125 horsepower but can get up to 56 mpg.
“The Ford 999cc turbo produces impressive power for an engine of this size with superb noise and vibration characteristics,” says American journalist Dan Carney.
In the Performance Engine category, the Ferrari 6.3-liter V12 found in the Berlinetta was able to outdistance some notable turbo power to score 294 points. That beat last year’s Performance Engine winner, the Ferrari’s 4.5-liter V8 that powers the 458 Italia, by 109 points. Just two points back in third was the McLaren 3.8-liter V8 from the MP4-12C. Rounding out the scoring are the Porsche 3.8-liter boxer engine in the 911 Carrera (149 points), Mercedes AMG 6.2-liter V8 in the SLS (109 points) and the BMW 4.4-liter V8 in the M5 (100 points).
The Ferrari V12 is rated at 740 horsepower at 8,500 rpm with 690 nmeters peak torque at 6,000 rpm. It features an octane-defying 13.5:1 compression ratio and can get up to 18.8 mpg on the highway.
“Seven-hundred-forty horsepower from 6.3 liters seems impressive until you realize that at least 100 extra horses are lost in the soundtrack alone,” says American-based voter Jason Cammisa. “Ferrari’s newest V12 is quite and refined when it needs to be; then loud enough to melt the intake valves of every other engine on the road. It makes torque down low but makes dreams come true as it approaches 9,000 rpm.”
The McLaren did bounce back to win the 3- to 4-liter division. Co-developed by Ricardo, the McLaren twin-turbo engine is rated at 625 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and pounds out almost 450 lb-ft torque between 3,000 and 7,000 rpm. This engine features dry sump lubrication, flat-plane crankshaft and can get more than 24 mpg while weighing just 439 pounds.
Top three finishers in other categories include:
Above 4-liter
Ferrari 6.3-liter V12 (Berlinetta), Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 (458 Italia), Mercedes AMG 5.5-liter V8 (E63 AMG)
3- to 4-liter
McLaren 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 (MP4-12C), BMW 4.0-liter V8 (M3), Audi/Bently 4.0-liter TFSI (S6)
Porsche 2.7-liter flat-six DI (Boxster), BMW 3.0-liter biturbo 6-cylinder (1 Series M coupe), BMW 3.0-liter twin-power turbo diesel (330d)
2.0- to 2.5-liter
Audi 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbo (TT RS), Mazda 2.2-liter skyactiv diesel (CX-5), Mercedes-Benz 2.1-liter CDI (A220)
1.8- to 2.0-liter
BMW 2.0-liter twin-turbo I4 (125i), Volkswagen 2.0-liter I4 TFSI (Jetta), BMW 2.0-liter twin-turbo I4 diesel (116d)
1.4- to 1.8-liter
BMW/PSA 1.6-liter turbo (Mini Cooper), Volkswagen 1.8-liter TFSI (Audi A3), Ford/Volvo/Mazda 1.6-liter turbo (Focus)
1- to 1.4-liter
Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI twincharger (Audi A1), Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI (Jetta), Volkswagen 1.2-liter TSI (Golf)
Green Engine
Fiat 875cc 2-cylinder turbo CNG (Panda), GM 1.4-liter electric w/ range extender (Volt), Tesla full electric powertrain (Model S)
New Engine
Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI ACT (Golf), Ferrari 6.3-liter V12 (Berlinetta), Mazda 2.5-liter Skyactiv petrol (CX-5)