Praised for its drivability, performance, economy, refinement and technology, the unit won the overall title and the sub 1-litre category. Available in models including the Ford Fiesta, B-Max, Focus, C-Max, and the Tourneo Connect, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine will also be included in the new Mondeo when it launches later this year, making it the smallest engine to be specified in such a large family car.

Mercedes also fared well in this year’s awards, with the AMG 2.0-litre turbo in A45 collecting two awards. The new engine fended off competition from BMW for the MINI, M3/4 and i3 and also picked up the title in the 1.8-2.0 litre class.

BMW collected two awards, winning the 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre category for the PSA 1.6-litre turbo and the 2.5-litre to 3-litre award for its Twin-Power Turbo.

The Green Engine award went to Tesla for the full-electric powertrain in the Model S, making it the first all-electric powertrain to win.

Meanwhile VolksWagen's 1.4 TSI TwinCharger became the awards' most celebrated engine ever, winning in the 1 to 1.4-litre category, bringing its total haul to 13 awards since 2006.

Ferrari continued its dominance in the Performance Engine Category and Above 4-litre category, with the 458 Speciale V8 winning this year; Ferrari has now won both categories for the last four years, with McLaren retaining the 3-litre to 4-litre class with its V8 variant.

The 16th International Engine of the Year Awards was judged by an 82-strong panel of international experts, and winners were announced at a ceremony at Engine Expo 2014 in Stuttgart, Germany on 25th June.