Subaru’s iconic 2.5 litre turbocharged ‘boxer’ engine has won an award at the International Engine Of The Year Award 2008.

Fitted to the brand-new Impreza 2.5 WRX and WRX STI, the engine was voted the best in the 2.0 to 2.5 litre class.

This is the second time Subaru’s 2.5 litre horizontally-opposed turbo-petrol engine has topped its category, beating rival engines from BMW, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Mazda, Ford, Land Rover, Lancia and Peugeot/Citroën.

The award ceremony took place on Wednesday, May 7, at the Engine Expo 2008 held in Stuttgart, Germany.

A panel of 65 renowned motoring and technical journalists from 32 countries served as judges in the competition organised by UKIP Media and Events, Britain’s largest group of auto-technology magazines which includes Engine Technology International.

The judges evaluated the vehicle’s performance, drivability, fuel economy and refinement.

Typical quotes include those from Nikos Kounitis from Greece’s 4Wheels magazine who said: “This nice, powerful and fun to drive engine justifies Subaru’s persistence with ‘boxer’ engines” while Austria’s Horst Bauer of Kurier said: “….still the one to beat when it comes to power output for a 4-cylinder engine.”

Revisions for the totally new Impreza WRX result in even gutsier, flexible throttle response with, for example, 221 lb ft of torque now available at 2,000 rpm instead of 150 lb ft before. Maximum power and torque are the same 230 PS and 236 lb ft respectively but at much lower engine speeds.

Meanwhile, the range-topping Impreza WRX STI now produces 300 PS and 300 lb ft in standard form – increases of 19 PS and 11 lb ft respectively – attracting widespread praise for unbeatable performance for the price.

For example, the new Impreza WRX STI’s top speed is 155.3 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds yet delivers a Combined fuel economy return of 27.4 mpg.

The price of entry into Subaru’s 2.5 litre turbocharged club is £20,095 for the Impreza WRX and £25,095 for the WRX STI Type UK (On-the-Road).