Two Wins For Toyota's Fuel Efficient Engines At The 2010 International Engine Of The Year Awards

EPSOM, UNITED KINGDOM – June 24, 2010: Toyota’s engineering excellence has once again been rewarded with wins in the ‘Green Engine of the Year’ and ‘Sub-1.0 Litre Engine of the Year’ categories at the 2010 International Engine of the Year Awards.

These two victories represent true international recognition, the engines having been tested and judged by a panel of 72 motoring journalists from 35 countries. Toyota’s latest success reinforces the company’s impressive International Engine of the Year track record, with 22 wins (out of a total 144) since the awards began in 1999.

Green Engine of the Year – Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive
Toyota Hybrid Synergy DriveŽ regains its crown as ‘Green Engine of the Year’ in 2010, winning the award for the fourth time in the last five years. Available in the Prius and Auris Hybrid, this iconic powertrain technology is one of the most successful in the history of the awards, with a total of 11 titles.

The Auris Hybrid, launched in the UK on 1 July, returns fuel consumption of 74.3mpg and CO2 emissions of just 89 g/km. Both the Auris Hybrid and the new Prius comply with Euro 5 emissions standards and are expected to meet those of Euro 6. Being a full hybrid powertrain, Toyota hybrids can operate in electric mode at speeds up to 30mph, with a driving range of up to two miles depending on battery charge level. The powertrain also produces exhaust air quality with very limited NOx and zero Particulate Matter (PM) emissions, unlike diesels.

Summing up, the judges praised Toyota hybrids as: “The essence of mechanical, electric and electrical ingenuity in one affordable package” and "Still the best green technology available on the market - reliable and durable, with very low real life CO2 emissions” .

Sub-1.0 Litre Engine of the Year – Toyota 1.0 VVT-i
Toyota’s light and compact 1.0-litre VVT-i engine has won the ‘Sub-1.0 Litre Engine of the Year’ category for the fourth year running. Featuring an all-aluminium construction, the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine weighs only 67kg, making it one of the lightest internal combustion car engines on the market today.

Developing 68 DIN hp/50 kW, this engine is not only the most powerful 1.0-litre unit in the city car market, but also generates class-leading specific torque of 93 Nm at 3600rpm. High levels of low to mid-range torque are essential to good driveability in stop/start, constant acceleration and braking urban driving conditions. The Toyota development team achieved this through a low-friction three-cylinder unit, and the fine-tuning of the intake system through optimised manifold length and the use of optimised diameter for the intake ports.

Featured in the Aygo, iQ and Yaris, Toyota’s 1.0 litre unit was acclaimed by the judges as “One of the most pleasant and frugal sub-1.0-litre triples that propels a four-seater” and “… still the one to beat in this category class". They added “This three-cylinder has the punch and the torque to ensure the car is fun to drive around the city, but best of all is its very, very low fuel consumption".