Cars & Autos | Thursday 18 June, 2015 12:46 pm |

For the fifth year running a Ferrari engine has triumphed in two categories of the prestigious International Engine of the Year Awards – Performance Engine of the Year and the Above 4-litre class. The winner on this occasion is the naturally-aspirated 4.5-litre V8 engine which, in its most powerful guise, equips the 458 Speciale and Speciale A.

The V8 won both awards two years running in 2011 and 2012. That success was repeated in 2014 and now again in 2015. Its unmatched run of victories has only been interrupted by the naturally-aspirated, 740-hp 6262cc V12 equipping the critically acclaimed Ferrari F12berlietta, which took the same accolades in 2013 with the V8 in second place.

The jury for the awards is made up of a panel of motoring journalists from 31 nations who judge each shortlisted engine using their subjective driving impressions and technical knowledge, taking into account characteristics such as fuel economy, smoothness, performance, sound and drivability.

Vittorio Dini, Ferrari’s powertrain department head, commented, “For our team, winning both these titles for the fourth time is a crowning achievement that testifies to the world-class performance of our naturally-aspirated V8 engine family.”

Ferrari’s V8 reached the pinnacle of development in the 458 Speciale and the limited-series edition Speciale A, where the naturally-aspirated 4.5 litre produces 605 hp at 9000 rpm.