Ford’s 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine has been named International Engine of the Year for the second year in a row.

A panel of 87 automotive journalists from 35 countries judged the awards on driveability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced engine technology.

Developed in the UK, at Ford’s centres in Dunton and Dagenham, the turbocharged, direct-injection three-cylinder engine achieved the highest score in the 15-year history of the awards.

Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president for global powertrain, commented: “With a technology as mature as the internal combustion engine it is very rare to achieve a true breakthrough, but that is exactly what the team accomplished with this engine.

“You have to drive it to believe a small three-cylinder engine can deliver such performance and fuel economy.”

Ford recently confirmed plans to double production of the engine at its plant in Cologne, Germany, to more that 1,000 units a day.