In fact it impressed them so much, it also scooped wins in the Best New Engine, Best Sub 1-litre and Best Green Engine categories, seeing off electric powertrains in the process.
Editor of Engine Technology International, Dean Slavnich, said: "Its (the TwinAir's) triumph is a clear signal that less is more: people want low-emission, fuel-efficient yet powerful engines and just two cylinders certainly seems to provide a comprehensive solution!"
At the other end of the scale, Ferrari's 4.5-litre, 570hp, flat-plane crank V8 (from the 458 Italia) won both Best Performance Engine of the Year and best engine in the 'Above 4-litre' category.
Meanwhile, BMW scooped awards in the '3-litre to 4-litre' category for the 4.0-litre V8 from the M3; in the '2.5-litre to 3-litre' for its DI Twin Turbo, which is fitted across the range; the '1.8-litre to 2-litre' category for its 2-litre Twin Turbo diesel engine found in 123d and X1; and the '1.4-litre to 1.8-litre' category for its 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo, which features in the MINI Cooper S and was co-developed with Peugeot and Citroen.
Volkswagen and Audi were victorious in the '1-litre to 1.4-litre' and '2-litre to 2.5-litre' categories with their 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger and 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged, units respectively.
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