Fiat scooped Best New Engine award at the 2011 International Engine of the Year Awards. The small 875cc two-cylinder TwinAir engine impressed judges with its extremely low emissions, high fuel economy and impressive power of 85BHP.

"Fiat has now produced one of the all-time great engines. 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!", commented Dean Slavnich, editor of Engine Technology International and co-chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards.

The TwinAir has also taken the awards for Best Sub 1-litre and Best Green Engine. It even managed to beat zero-emission pure electric vehicle engines from Nissan and Mitsubishi.

Check out the other winning engines in the table, below!

Fiat with Best New Engine at the 2011 International Engine of the Year Awards

Fiat 500 Cabrio (2012)
Fiat 500 Cabrio (2012) - picture 1 of 3
Fiat 500 Cabrio (2012) - picture 2 of 3
Fiat 500 Cabrio (2012) - picture 3 of 3

The category winners are:

Best New Engine 2011 Fiat 875cc two-cylinder (Fiat 500 (85bhp))

Best Green Engine 2011 Fiat 875cc two-cylinder (Fiat 500 (85bhp))

Best Performance Engine 2011 Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 (458 Italia 570bhp)

Above 4-liter Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 (458 Italia 570bhp)

3-liter to 4-liter BMW 4-liter V8 (M3 420bhp)

2.5-liter to 3-liter BMW 3-liter DI Twin Turbo (135i, 1 M Coupe, 335i, 535i, X3 35i, X5 35i, X6 35i, Z4 (306bhp, 340bhp), 640i (320bhp), 740i (326bhp))

2-liter to 2.5-liter Audi 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo (Audi TT RS, RS3 340bhp))

1.8-liter to 2-liter BMW Diesel 2-liter Twin Turbo (123d, X1 (204bhp))

1.4-liter to 1.8-liter BMW 1.6-liter four-cylinder Turbo (Mini Cooper S, Clubman Cooper S, Countryman Cooper S (184bhp), Mini Works, Clubman Works (211bhp))

1-liter to 1.4-liter Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI Twincharger (VW Polo 180bhp), Golf, Scirocco, Eos, Jetta, Tiguan, Skoda Fabia RS (180bhp), Touran (140, 170bhp), Seat Ibiza/Cupra (150bhp, 180bhp), Alhambra (150bhp), Audi A1 (185bhp))

Sub 1-liter Fiat 875cc two-cylinder (Fiat 500 (85bhp))

Source: Fiat