At the International Engine of the Year contest Fiat scooped the best new engine award for the second year running.

Last year, the Italian OEM took this prestigious award with its 1.4-litre MultiAir turbo and for 2011 the same technology has been recognized, but this time in the 875cc TwinAir unit.

Like it’s bigger 1.4-litre brother, TwinAir boasts a number of sophisticated technological features. Examples include the electro hydraulic control of the Multiair inlet valves and an innovative timing chain that drastically cuts engine-running costs because it does not need any maintenance. A counter rotating balancer shaft also guarantees that vibrational comfort is maintained in all operating conditions.

The MultiAir engine technology is able to increase power and torque while reducing fuel consumption and emissions, which are further cut on TwinAir due to a three-way catalyst in the engine compartment and two Lambda probes. Spewing only 95g/km of CO2, Fiat claims it has the world’s greenest mass-production engine, which is why so many of the IEOTYA jury gave it top marks.

While the dimensions might be small – TwinAir measures 307mm in length, 500mm in width and 596mm in height – the two-cylinder packs a punch, due mainly to a Mitsubishi turbo helping to generate 85bhp and 150Nm of torque.