Ford EcoBoost triple named engine of the year

Ford's 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder has become the little engine that could, after being honoured three times at the International Engine of the Year Awards.

The fuel-saving powerplant (pictured) rated 401 points to take out the award for International Engine of the Year, 257 points to secure New Engine of the year and 371 points for Sub 1-litre engine of the year. Australians are expected to get their first taste of the tiny engine in the EcoSport SUV, early next year.

“This is a fitting victory for a truly remarkable engine,” said Dean Slavnich, chairman of the International Engine of the Year awards and editor of Engine Technology International.

“For a three-cylinder to power a vehicle like the Ford Focus with such ease proves that the future is very, very bright for the internal combustion engine,” Mr Slavnich was quoted as saying in a press release.

76 journalists, representing 35 countries take part in the International Engine of the Year Awards, Conducted by Engine Technology International magazine and held over the past 13 years. Judging criteria include driveability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced technology. This year's win is Ford's first since the inception of the awards.

In other classes, GM's Volt/Ampera twins took out the Green Engine award with the 1.4-litre four-cylinder; both the Performance Engine award and the award for engines above 4.0 litres went to the 4.5-litre V8 powering Ferrari's 458 Italia; and the Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger engine beat all comers — including stablemate the 1.2-litre TSI engine in the 1.4 to 1.8-litre category.

Other winners were as follows:

1.8 to 2.0-litre: BMW 2.0-litre TwinPower four-cylinder
2.0 to 2.5-litre: Audi 2.5-litre turbo five-cylinder
2.5 to 3.0-litre: BMW 3.0-litre TwinPower six-cylinder
3.0 to 4.0-litre: BMW 4.0-litre V8

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