For the fourth year in a row, Ferrari won International Engine of the Year with its 3.9-liter Biturbo V8 found in the 488 GTB, 488 Spider and 488 Pista. Old man Enzo Ferrari always used to say “When you buy a Ferrari, you are paying for the engine. The rest you get for free,” because he was of the mindset his engines were the real work of art, regardless of how utterly gorgeous the surrounding metalwork always tended to look.
So would he be surprised a powerplant with his name stamped on the valve covers took top honors at the International Engine and Powertrain of the Year Awards, along with Best Performance Engine? Definitely not. Would Il Commendatore be taken aback by the prospect of Jaguar Land Rover’s Full-Electric Powertrain almost beating his gas-guzzling V8? Without a doubt. But Jaguar can take solace in knowing it won both Best New Engine and Best Electric Powertrain this year. Another notable win goes to BMW for Best Hybrid Powertrain with its 1.5-liter Three-Cylinder Electric-Gasoline Hybrid.
International Engine of the Year/ Best Performance Engine
Ferrari 3.9-liter Biturbo V8
Ferari 488 GTB: “The 488 went through the left-right-left chicane as if it were on rails, without a hint of body roll, then carved up the turn 3–4 banking (a centrifugal repeat of the banked turns 1–2) and through the slight kink in the front stretch to start another lap.” Bryan Campbell, Staff Writer
Best Hybrid Powertrain
BMW 1.5-liter Three-Cylinder Electric-Gasoline Hybrid
BMW i8: ” It’s hard to argue with a sports car that can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in four seconds and get the combined equivalent of 69 miles per gallon between its gas engine and battery pack. Still harder when it looks as wild as the i8 does, with its gullwing doors and aquatic predator lines.” – Will Sabel Courtney, Motoring Editor
Best New Engine/ Best Electric Powertrain
Jaguar Land Rover Full-Electric Powertrain
Jaguar I-Pace: “It should be clear that Jaguar knows how to make a performance car. The years of experience JLR has garnered making cars that elevate the driver experience above all else comes through in the I-Pace.” – Alex Kalogianni, Contributer