BMW N54 Engine Wins 2012 Engine of the Year Award (with N20, S65, N18)

[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW N54 Engine Wins 2012 Engine of the Year Award

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Engine of the Year Awards 2012: BMW Group scores with four, six and eight cylinders.

13.06.2012

Four award-winners spanning a displacement range of 1.6 to 4.0 litres – BMW Group again emerges as the most successful auto manufacturer in the internationally renowned engine contest.


Munich / Stuttgart. Unbeaten titleholders and triumphant newcomers have secured the BMW Group’s renewed pre-eminence at the 2012 International Engine of the Year Awards. Powerplants guaranteeing efficient power delivery in current BMW and MINI models topped no fewer than four out of eight displacement categories. The quartet of trophy-winners comprised two four-cylinder engines, a straight-six and an eight-cylinder. Scooping up best-in-class wins were the 1.6-litre turbo unit of the MINI John Cooper S, the four-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology that drives the new BMW 328i, among others, the straight-six with M TwinPower Turbo of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, and the V8 under the bonnet of the BMW M3. This year’s winners were selected by an international panel of judges made up of 76 motoring journalists from 36 countries. The Engine of the Year Awards were presented against the backdrop of the Engine Expo trade fair in Stuttgart.

With these latest accolades, the BMW Group continues its winning streak in the world’s foremost engine competition. Thanks to the Group’s outstanding development expertise in this area, it has managed to notch up more than 50 class and overall wins at the International Engine of the Year Awards since 1999. In 2012, yet again, engines of widely differing design created for BMW and MINI models dominated a large number of displacement categories. Moreover, the latest title-winners span an unusually broad output spectrum ranging from 135 kW/184 hp to 309 kW/420 hp.

N18
The 2012 competition saw the prize in the 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre displacement class handed to the engine that drives the MINI Cooper S, in a reprise of its success last year. The 1.6-litre four-cylinder develops peak output of 135 kW/184 hp with the help of a twin-scroll turbocharger, direct petrol injection and variable valve control based on the BMW-patented VALVETRONIC technology. Among the key attributes of this unit are not only its eager power delivery but also exemplary efficiency for its class.

N20
Likewise providing enhanced driving pleasure coupled with extremely low fuel consumption and emission figures is the new 2.0-litre engine featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. The 180 kW/245 hp four-cylinder turbocharged unit with High Precision Direct Injection and VALVETRONIC instantly won over the judges to capture the trophy in the 1.8-litre to 2.0-litre category. This engine is currently powering the new BMW 328i Sedan, BMW 528i and BMW Z4 sDrive28i, as well as the BMW X3 xDrive28i and BMW X1 xDrive28i models.

N54
The top accolade in the 2.5-litre to 3.0-litre class went to a six-cylinder in-line engine whose technology has already wowed the judges several times previously. Both in 2007 and in 2008, this 3.0-litre powerplant with twin turbochargers, High Precision Injection and Double-VANOS took the overall prize in the Engine of the Year Awards. It serves as the basis for both the M TwinPower Turbo unit inside the BMW 1 Series M Coupe and the BMW TwinPower Turbo engine of the BMW Z4 sDrive35is. Delivering 250 kW/340 hp, this thrillingly high-revving straight-six has reached its highest output level. The upshot is truly outstanding performance that has garnered it a further Engine of the Year Award.

S65
An achievement of this calibre is only exceeded by the string of successes claimed by the fourth BMW Group award-winner in 2012. For the fifth time in a row, the V8 engine of the BMW M3 high-performance sports car provides the measure of all things in the 3.0-litre to 4.0-litre displacement class. Bolstering the undiminished appeal of the 4.0-litre naturally aspirated engine are its hallmark M high-revving concept, peak output of 309 kW/420 hp and outstanding thrust. Beyond this, the eight-cylinder is compelling for its remarkable efficiency thanks to the Auto Start-Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration and other Efficient Dynamics technologies.

[gary88]

[///Mandy]

[Bimmerlover76]

Mmm... Tasty N54 goodness! My God, I think I'm having a crisis!

[ozinaldo]

Well deserved, this is one of the best six cylinder engines ever produced, wouldn't be fair to call it second to anything else available in its class.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by ozinaldo

Well deserved, this is one of the best six cylinder engines ever produced, wouldn't be fair to call it second to anything else available in its class.

+1

[b33g33]

[CarJunkie]

Cool.

[EINSER M]

Powered by BMW N54Tu thats right!

[b33g33]

Originally Posted by EINSER M

Powered by BMW N54Tu thats right!

So, is that a designation we made up (the "Tu" part)?

[EINSER M]

Originally Posted by b33g33

So, is that a designation we made up (the "Tu" part)?

i stole it from the S65Tu
technische uberholung

[mPlasticDesign]

I'm pretty sure the 1M engine code is N54B30TO.

Dack can confirm this I believe...

[JohnCena]

N54TU

[ChrisBuer]

Forgive me for asking a stupid question although I am a non-techy, but what makes the N54 engine so good?

I've had a variety of cars and the engine in my 1M is smooth, produces great power, etc, but what sets it apart from other engines in its class?

[ozinaldo]

2007 and 2008 overall International Engine of the Year. 2007 also best new engine. 2007 also best in class 2.5 liter to 3.0 liter. Following 5 years, a total six in a row, best in its class. Total 9 awards from International Engine of the Year which makes it the most awarded engine -BMW or not- in the Award's history which started back in 1999.

And people cried and whined when they heard first time that 1M would be getting (the most powerful and M tuned version of) the N54 back in 2010, I just asked myself what is wrong with everyone, this probably is one of the greatest modern engines, a turning point in the history of performance engines. It is not perfect for sure but it is as close to all the perfection you need in real world in real roads, smooth and powerful, has many colours and capabilities. I love this engine.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Mr.Metak2you

I'm pretty sure the 1M engine code is N54B30TO.

Dack can confirm this I believe...

Yup, Mr. Metak is correct! N54B30TO

But... some shorten that to N54TU.

[EINSER M]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Yup, Mr. Metak is correct! N54B30TO

But... some shorten that to N54TU.

some? I think I'm the only one!!!!! lol

[Redadair]

I loved the N54 in my 2007 335i, loving the N54 in my 1M even more. The M Button Mapping makes throttle response performance fabulous. Overall power, torque, efficiency and refinement is amazing.

Best engines I have ever owned period.

[CarJunkie]

[delete to add quote]

[CarJunkie]

Originally Posted by ChrisBuer

Forgive me for asking a stupid question although I am a non-techy, but what makes the N54 engine so good?

I've had a variety of cars and the engine in my 1M is smooth, produces great power, etc, but what sets it apart from other engines in its class?

They seem to put a lot of emphasis on efficiency and emissions. The fuel economy is not great for a small car, but is amazing when the performance factor is considered. You just can't find more fun at this level of fuel economy.