The 1.5-liter three-cylinder hybrid drive unit in the BMW i8 is named 2015 International Engine of the Year at the Engine Expo trade fair in Stuttgart.
The BMW i8 drive unit was voted class winner for its BMW TwinPower Turbo three-cylinder gasoline engine, while the overall drive unit of the BMW i8 claimed a further class win as the best “new engine”. Its combination of electric motor and gasoline engine also earned it overall victory. In the 2.5 to 3.0-liter displacement category, the M TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder in-line gasoline engine of the BMW M3 and BMW M4 came out on top.
The three-cylinder combustion engine in the BMW i8 develops 170 kW/231 hp and drives the rear wheels, while the 96 kW/131 hp electric motor draws its energy from a lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a conventional domestic power socket, and sends its power to the front axle. This bespoke plug-in hybrid system, developed and produced by the BMW Group, enables a range of up to 37 kilometers (23 miles) in the EU test cycle and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) on electric power alone, coupled with a “glued-to-the-road” all-wheel driving experience headlined by powerful acceleration and a dynamically-biased distribution of power through keenly taken corners. The more powerful of the two sources drives the rear wheels and uses the electric boost from the hybrid system to deliver hallmark BMW driving pleasure while at the same time offering ground breaking levels of efficiency. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes just 4.4 seconds, yet combined fuel consumption – as calculated in the EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles – stands at 2.1 liters per 100 kilometers (approx. 135 mpg imp) plus 11.9 kWh of electricity. This equates to CO2 emissions of 49 grams per kilometer.
International Engine of the Year Awards 2015 Winners:
| category | Winner |
| International Engine of the Year – overall winner | BMW 1.5-liter three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid |
| Sub 1-Liter | Ford 999cc three-cylinder turbo |
| 1-Liter to 1.4-Liter | PSA Peugeot Citroen 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo |
| 1.4-Liter to 1.8-Liter | BMW 1.5-liter three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid |
| 1.8-Liter to 2-Liter | Mercedes-AMG 2-liter turbo |
| 2-Liter to 2.5-Liter | Audi 2.5-liter turbo |
| 2.5-Liter to 3-Liter | BMW M 3-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder |
| 3-Liter to 4-Liter | McLaren 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 |
| Above 4-Liter | Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 |
| Green Engine | Tesla full-electric powertrain |
| New Engine | BMW 1.5-liter three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid |
| Performance Engine | Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 |
The International Engine of the Year Awards were launched in 1999, since when 66 class and overall wins have gone to engines developed for BMW models. Each year an expert panel of judges, this time comprising 65 motoring journalists from 31 countries, selects the best engines in numerous categories.
