BMW has recently been shopping for awards— imagine seven awards for four of its engines! Yes, readers BMW has received that many…eat your heart out Mercedes!

Anyway as expected, BMW with its top of the line BMW computer chip has once again emerged as the most successful brand at the International Engine of the Year Awards for 2007 – the world’s most important engine competition. And for the third time in a row, the Award’s panel of judges, which consists of 62 high ranking international automobile journalists from 30 countries, decided to give the principal prize – the highly-coveted “International Engine of the Year” – to the Bavarian automobile automaker.

Yes folks, the new BMW 3.0 liter Twin Turbo petrol engine that was fitted in South Africa to the BMW Series Coupe and Convertible and would also soon debut in the sedan took home the bacon. And that’s not the only BMW engine that won the award, the world’s first in-line 6 cylinder engine with Twin Turbo technology also from BMW came out topping two other categories. It won the “Best New Engine of the Year 2007” including the 2.5 – 3.0 liter capacity class.

Aside from the engine’s massive pulling power, the judges were particularly impressed with the high-efficiency and performance of the 225 kW power unit. The 9.5 liters per 100 kilometers in the BMW 335i Coupe is considered extremely moderate based on the EU norm for this performance class.

The Twin Turbo achieves such combination of power and efficiency through BMW’s High precision Injection system which is the first ever to be produced in high-volume production. It also allows accurate metering of the air-fuel mixture.

The V10 high-performance engine which is equipped in the BMW M5 and M6 has won two awards. The 373 kW power package with a capacity of 5 liters received the award for “Best Performance Engine of the Year” for the last two years in a row and also won in the engine class over 4.0 liters capacity. This remarkable engine has been able to win the “International Engine of the Year” award for 2005 and 2006 respectively.

The 2.0 – 2.5 liter Award was won by the 2.5 liter 6-cylinder petrol engine with VALVETRONIC which is found under the bonnet of the BMW 325i, BMW 525i, the Z4 Roadster 2.5si, and the X3 2.5si. Its fully variable valve control was utilized for the first time in 2001 and since then was employed in millions of vehicles. The 2.5 liter 6-cylinder petrol engine with VALVETRONIC produces 160 kW and founded BMW’s philosophy of efficient dynamics. According to jury member Rogelio Rivera-Nava from Mexico, “You can hear the 2.5-litre engine from a long way off due to its exquisite sound. The in-line 6-cylinder construction provides the basis for the technical purity of this most famous of all BMW engines. It is a pleasure to drive it.”

This is not yet the end of the prize series for BMW Group it has also won the 1.4 – 1.8 liter category but was tied with PSA Peugeot Citroën which happens to be BMW’s partner in developing the 1.6 liter turbo engine. This engine powers the MINI Cooper S giving it 128 kW. It will also be equipped in some models that these two automakers will develop together.

BMW for the last nine years has been able to win over 38 of the most coveted “International Engine of the Year Award” trophies making it as the most successful automaker in the history of the competition. This also signifies BMW’s ingenuity in the field of engine construction.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG took the opportunity of the ninth Middle East International Motor Show for serial unveilings for its two concept cars and the new M3 Coupe.

The new BMW M3 houses a powerful V8 engine producing 420 horsepower. The M3 can speed from 0-100 kph in just 4.8 seconds. In the Middle East, the M3 will go on sale this coming January. BMWs concept car, the low-slung CS is a four-door Gran Turismo for Middle East’s luxury segment going in production two years from now. Another unveiling was for the X6 concept series. With its twin turbo, BMW marks the X6 as the world’s first sports activity coupe.

According to Phil Horton, managing director of BMW Group Middle East, his region could make it to the top five globally with hit X6 sales. The M6 will make it to dealerships in mid-2008.

“This will be a key market. I think if the company could design a car specifically for the Middle East, it would be the X6. It looks good and both engines offered will have twin-turbo power,” he said.

For the year 2007, the BMW X5 was the best selling for BMW in the Middle East. The X5 covers 15 percent of total BMW sales in the region. The X5 is followed by the 5 (including the 530i and its BMW 530i parts) and the 7 series.

Sales trend varies from the United States and Europe, where the 3 series, smaller than the others accounts for the 50 percent of sales for BMW. Before 2007 ends, BMW aims to sell almost 15,000 BMWs and 700 Minis, these figures pose a 25 percent sales increase for BMW and 25 percent increase for Mini sales.

“We’re looking at good growth for the next year. Depending on the regional political situation we could easily see 10-15 per cent growth in the market and for BMW,” said Horton.

As the third quarter of the year was completed, BMW reported a net profit leap of 78 percent due to higher sales and BMW sees further sales rise before 2007 ends. With these sales result, BMW is maintaining its post as the world’s largest premium automaker.

“The biggest growth opportunities for BMW and most other car manufacturers are in China, India and Russia,” said Horton.

“With our [Middle East] growth levels, that clearly puts us in the top ten ranking. The markets of America and Europe are not growing at anything like those levels.”

BMW, maker of quality BMW accessory parts, bagged 7 awards for its 4 engines, namely: BMW 3.0 liter Twin Turbo in-line six cylinder petrol engines, BMW M 5.0 liter V10 petrol engine, BMW 2.5 liter in-line six cylinder petrol engines, and the MINI 1.6 liter Turbo petrol engine. With these, BMW, for the third time in a row, won the 2007 International Engine of the Year.

The award is considered the most important engine competition in the world. The jury consisted of 62 high-ranking international automobile journalists from 30 countries.

The BMW 3.0 liter Twin Turbo petrol engine is now fitted in all body variations of the successful BMW 3 Series. The 6-cylinder engine with Twin Turbo technology won the “Best New Engine of the Year 2007” for the 2.5 liter and 3.0 liter capacity classes, respectively.

As an addition to the 6-cylinder engine with Twin Turbo technology’s extreme pulling power, the awards jury was also impressed by the high efficiency of the 225 kW power unit. In the BMW 335i Coupe, with 9.5 liters per 100 kilometers, the average level of consumed fuel based on the EU norm is intensely moderate for this performance class. And this is basically because of BMW High Precision Injection. It is the world’s first jet-guided direct injection system ever to be produced in high-volume production. This, in effect, allows a specific and accurate metering of the mixture of air-fuel.

The V10 high-performance engine, which is to be found in BMW M5 and M6, won 2 awards. Like in the past 2 years, the said engine with a 507bhp power package and a capacity of 5 liters bagged the “Best Performance Engine of the Year” award. It also won in the engine class that has over 4.0 liters capacity. The said engine had already won the “International Engine of the Year” award in 2005 and 2006.

The 2.5 liter 6-cylinder petrol engine with VALVETRONIC won the 2.0 – 2.5 liter award. The engine is being used in the BMW Z4 Roadster 2.5si and X3 2.5si. It was first used in 2001. Since then, it was established in millions of automobiles. The engine its fully variable valve control yields 160 kW and one can really say it has the BMW philosophy of efficient dynamics.

According to Rogelio Rivera-Nava, a jury member from Mexico, the exquisite sound of the 2.5-litre engine can be heard from a distance. He further stated the construction of the in-line 6-cylinder gives the basis for the technical purity of this most famous BMW engines.

The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën jointly received the award for the 1.6 liter turbo engine under the 1.4-1.8 liter category. The engine is being used in the MINI Cooper S.

For the last 9 years, BMW has been a recipient of over 30 of the highly sought-after “International Engine of the Year” awards. This makes the Bavarian auto manufacturer a leader in the field of engine construction and innovation.