BMW Isn’t Interested in HCCI Engines Right Now
BMW is regarded as a leader in the world of diesels, so it has no plans to develop an HCCI engine until it sees how upcoming HCCI engines perform. HCCI stands for homogenous charge compression ignition.
HCCI is a process that allows gasoline to be ignited by compression instead of a spark. Such an ignition system would boost gasoline engines to the efficiency of diesels. This is possible by mixing the air and fuel more evenly. GM and Mercedes are currently working on HCCI engines.
(Click through to find out why BMW doesn’t think HCCI is the answer to emissions and fuel economy improvements.)
According to an interview with AutoWeek.nl, BMW believes diesels offer potential for improving emissions and fuel economy. With BMW’s introduction of diesel engines to the U.S. market looming on the horizon, we’re not surprised by this decision. The dual-turbo diesels offer very impressive power and economy levels without giving up any fun. Plus they are already proven engines. Developing a totally new engine type would be very expensive, especially if it failed.
+ AutoWeek.nl: Geen HCCI bij BMW (via + WINDING ROAD: Mercedes Shows Innovative F 700 Concept
+ WINDING ROAD: BMW to Bring Euro Diesel to U.S., America Says ‘Thank You’
Comments
Ducati Minor
BMW has a point. Central and West Europe have jumped onto diesel in a big way. Contrary to popular belief, the diesel boom is recent. Diesels have always been on sale and made up a notable percentage of cars on the road, but transportation and energy departments all over the continent have done a major job of promoting diesel and dissuading people from purchasing petrols. If it were not for taxation, European fuel costs would mirror America's.
BMW makes a big percentage of its home sales from a wide line of diesels. For it to put billions into R&D for a new, expensive, and unproven technology is risky. (BMW already messed up with an advanced operating system: iDrive.) Good work to the General and Daimler for their effort, but I can see BMW's reluctance.
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