Honeywell Turbo Technologies has been honored with a 2012 Automotive News PACE™ (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Award for its High Temperature, Ball Bearing VNT™ Turbo. The PACE awards recognize superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance among automotive suppliers. The Honeywell turbo innovation combines two passenger-car firsts: a high-temperature variable geometry turbo and a state-of-the-art ball bearing system that deliver exceptional performance from a single-turbocharger.

Honeywell’s turbo team rose to the challenge by applying its materials, design and coatings capabilities to increase peak power. The ball bearing technology makes engine start spontaneous irrespective of weather conditions or geographical location, provides improved vehicle acceleration for passing maneuvers and reduces fuel consumption by up to 2 percent in the relevant emission cycles.

In addition to existing applications with Daimler AG, several other automakers are now considering the adoption of the technology. It is anticipated that additional 3.0L engines will begin to deploy the technology in the next two years. The next wave of adoption will be in 2.0L four-cylinder engines, where several customers already have ongoing programs.

“We are honored to be recognized for our continued excellence in innovation with this prestigious award,” said Alex Ismail, President and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems. “Turbocharging continues to be the leading technology of choice for automakers developing environmentally-friendly vehicles by downsizing engines and still meeting consumers’ needs and preferences. Typically, a turbocharged engine can improve fuel economy from 20 percent to 40 percent in gasoline and diesel engines respectively from the larger naturally-aspirated engines they replace.”

Turbocharging penetration continues to grow rapidly around the world. As the global auto industry is expected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2016, global turbo penetration is expected to grow from 30 percent to 36 percent by 2016, driving volume by more than 50 percent.

Presented by Automotive News with Ernst & Young and the Transportation Research Center Inc., the PACE Awards winners were selected by an independent panel of judges and were announced in a ceremony in Detroit on April 23.