2002 International Engines of The Year
Honda has proved that it makes some of the world’s finest engines by once again winning multiple categories in this year’s ‘International Engine of the Year’ Awards.
For the third consecutive year, the 2.0-litre Honda S2000 and 1.0-litre IMA hybrid engines (used in the Insight) won their respective size categories, the latter also winning ‘Best Fuel Economy’ Award.
A further accolade for Honda’s advanced hybrid technology comes with the new Civic Hybrid winning the 1.0 to 1.4-litre category – as well as being nominated runner-up to the Insight in the ‘Best Fuel Economy’ class.
“Following its repeat success with the Insight and impressive debut of the petrol/electric Civic, Honda has again justified its decision to invest in hybrid designs,” said Graham Johnson, Chairman of the ‘International Engine of the Year’ Awards and editor of Engine Technology International magazine, which sponsors the event.
“That the same company also produces the phenomenal 120 horsepower/litre engine that powers the Honda S2000… demonstrates the breadth of ability of this company,” he added.
At the same event, high praise was accorded to the AUTOnomy, a fuel-cell concept car developed by General Motors’ and Opel’s joint Global Alternative Propulsion Center (GAPC). It was voted ‘Best Concept’ and summing up on behalf of the jury, Mr Johnson said: “At last, a purpose-design fuel-cell car. AUTOnomy shows that the space-age propulsion system can be attractive”.
This was the second time in a row that a future concept of GM was recognized by the jury, as the award was given last year to the SVC engine with variable compression developed by Sweden’s Saab.
Chris Borroni-Bird, project leader of AUTOnomy, said that many GM teams are working with ‘power and passion’ to turn these concepts into realities on the road. He promised that, by the end of this decade, ‘you can expect fuel cell cars from us that are both affordable for our customers and economically viable for General Motors’.
The AUTOnomy is the first in the world to be built from the ground up around the fuel-cell propulsion system. One essential element of this new construction philosophy is the implementation of “drive-by-wire” engineering which features electronic instead of mechanical control of steering, braking and other vehicle functions.
The constructive core of the AUTOnomy (length/width/height: 4365/1880/1247 mm) is a completely new chassis on which essential components, including the fuel-cell stack and on-board hydrogen storage system, are neatly packaged. This “skateboard” chassis can accommodate a variety of body styles, making it possible to create a broad range of vehicles. Also, the fuel-cell stack itself sets a new yardstick as it has a power density of 1.75 kW per litre.
The International ‘Engine of the Year’ Awards are the considered ‘Oscars’ of the engine world. Voted for by a panel of 40 leading motoring journalists from all over the world, the competing engines are awarded points based on their efficiency, refinement, environmental attributes, plus importantly, how they perform on the road.
International Engine of the Year Awards 2002
Best New Engine 2002 (overall winner)
BMW 4.4-litre V8 Valvetronic (745i)
Best Fuel Economy
Honda Hybrid 1-litre IMA (Insight)
Best Concept
GM AUTOnomy
Under 1-litre
Honda hybrid 1-litre IMA
(Insight)
1-litre to 1.4-litre
Honda hybrid 1.3-litre IMA
(Civic)
1.4-litre to 1.8-litre
Toyota 1.8-litre VVTL-i 190
(Celica, Corolla)
1.8-litre to 2-litre
Honda 2-litre
(S2000)
2-litre to 2.5-litre
PSA Peugeot-Citroën 2.2-litre
(Citroën C5, Peugeot 406, 607)
2.5-litre to 3-litre
BMW 3-litre
(Z3, 330, 530, X5)
3-litre to 4-litre
BMW 3.2-litre
(M3, M Roadster, M Coupé)
Over 4-litres
BMW 4.4-litre V8 Valvetronic
(745i)
