- BMW continues Engine Oscar domination
- M3 motor is king four years in a row
- 2.5-litre super six secures top spot
Innovation, power, performance and pleasure continue BMW’s ‘joy of six’
dominance of the annual “Engine Oscars”, the global awards for the world’s best
motors.
A stunning engine is at the heart of every BMW and the judges have once again
agreed the silky-smooth straight-six powering four diverse BMW models is the
best in the world.
The engine wreathed in glory is the M54B25 2494cc, 24-valve, 141 kW, 245 Nm
unit that powers a variety of X3, 325i, Z4 Roadster and 525i models, crowned
best in the world between 2.0 and 2.5-litres capacity.
The M54B25’s back-to-back acclaim is matched by what some believe is the best
of the best, the M3 Coupe’s S54B33 3.2-litre straight six which produces up to
265 kW in the M3 CSL. This year it again dominated, winning the 3.0 – 4.0-litre
class. On debut in 2001, the M3’s S54B33 engine was crowned ‘International
Engine of the Year’ as well as winning its capacity class.
For four years in a row the M3 3.2-litre BI-VANOS engine has vanquished
all-comers in the 3.0 – 4.0-litre capacity class, underlining its peerless
perfection.
With two capacity titles under its belt in the 2004 Oscars, BMW has now won
more awards for its engine technology than any other manufacturer since the
inauguration of the Awards in 1999.
In addition to the M3’s overall award in 2001, the BMW V8 VALVETRONIC
4.4-litre (N62) engine fitted to the 745i and 745Li, the 545i, as well as the
new 645Ci Coupé and Convertible, was judged the best in the world overall in
2002.
Backing their judgements in the 2004 Engine Oscars, the jury crowned the M3
engine saying it is “absolutely the best in the category. It is the only real
choice for the connoisseur who appreciates the true art of engineering”.
The high-revving engine generates enormous muscle and easily exceeds the
‘racing engine benchmark’ of more than 100 horsepower per litre. It is: “the
best straight-six in the world,” and “the most powerful car of our time”,
according to the judges.
The 2.5-litre M54B25 engine was lauded for its “wonderful torque curve”, the
jury unified in agreement that the 141kW straight-six brings out the best in all
the vehicles it powers.
The Awards’ ceremony will take place in Stuttgart today on the eve of the
Engine Expo 2004 Trade Fair.
The Engine Oscars are judged by 56 Journalists from 24 countries on five
continents. The Awards are organised by British specialist motoring publisher
‘UK & International Press Automotive Magazines’, Britain’s largest group of
technical car publications.
Jury members cast their vote in the light of their own on-road experience
with the engines in their home markets, taking factors into consideration such
as engine power, fuel economy, driving NVH and performance characteristics.
This year’s awards considered more than 800 engines, all of which are
production engines fitted to vehicles sold in at least two countries. Fifty of
this year’s engines were first-time entries.
Despite the increasing competition, BMW continues to shine. From a total of
72 Engine Oscars awarded to date, BMW has won 20, the largest number of any of
the world’s manufacturers, a clear endorsement of the company’s Ultimate Driving
Machine positioning.
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