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The "International Engine of the Year Awards 2009" finds engines from Mercedes-Benz and AMG were the best in three categories.

The AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine received two awards: "Best Performance Engine" and "Above 4 liter" categories. This engine is naturally aspirated and it develops up to 386 kW/525 hp’; it took first place by a wide margin in each case.

In the "2 to 2.5 liters" category, the new four-cylinder diesel unit from Mercedes-Benz also took first place by a comfortable margin.

The "International Engine of the Year Awards" are among the most prestigious in the automobile sector.

The Awards are presented annually by the British motoring publisher UKIP Media & Events. The best engines of the year are chosen in twelve categories by an independent jury of 64 auto journalists from 32 countries. It was clear to the jury that Mercedes-Benz and AMG are developing award winning engines.

For 2009 the winner in the "Best Performance Engine" and "Above 4 liters"
categories was the AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine. This high-revving, naturally aspirated power unit with a displacement of 6208 cc develops an output between 336 kW/457 hp and 386 kW/525 hp, a maximum torque of 630 newton meters, and is used in seven AMG high-performance cars such as the C 63 AMG and the SL 63 AMG.

The basis for its agile power delivery is a concerted technology transfer from motor racing, which is firmly embedded in the corporate philosophy of Mercedes-AMG. Jury member Bill McKinnon (USA):

"Enormous pulling power and the responsiveness of a racing engine, combined with a "Wagneresque" soundtrack – this AMG V8 sets the standard."

A high performance with exemplary fuel economy is also offered by the newly
designed direct-injection four-cylinder diesel engine from Mercedes-Benz. The most powerful variant develops 150 kW/204 hp from a displacement of 2143 cc, with a maximum torque of 500 newton meters. It is used in both the new E-Class and the C-Class. The C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Saloon equipped with this engine has a combined fuel consumption of just 5.1 liters per 100 kilometers. The 125 kW/170 hp variant only consumes 4.8 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km (corresponding to CO2 emissions of 127 g/km), which is the best for the category. Jury member John Carey (Australia) describes the engine as follows:

"Effortless performance and an unbelievably low fuel consumption."

According to Friedrich Eichler, Head of Engine and Powertrain Development
at Mercedes-AMG:

"These top rankings reflect the huge enthusiasm of our customers for the AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine and the high-performance cars equipped with it – and they confirm the extremely positive test results in all the worldwide media."

And Christoph Schmidt-Arnold, Head Project Manager for the new diesel engines, says:

"We are extremely pleased that the new four-cylinder diesel engine from Mercedes-Benz has been so well received by our customers and that its combination of high efficiency and maximum driving pleasure has now been acknowledged with this award."

Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG

The AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine

Mercedes-Benz E-Class: The newly developed and modified four-cylinder engines have a higher output, despite the reduction in displacement. They also return impressive fuel-consumption figures that were previously achievable only in the compact-car class.

C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition