Mercedes Benz F 700: Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI).

This is a new technology that Mercedes Benz and GM developing. The HCCI (Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition) runs like a diesel engine concept but uses normal gasoline. It does not rattle or hum like a diesel engine, it does not exhaust black soot but inherits the gas mileage. Too good to be true. Well MB has already put it into one of their amazing concept vehicle. It is called the Mercedes Benz F 700. It was first shown in the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.

This MB has a HCCI engine called DiesOtto. "Dies" for Rudolf Diesel and "Otto" for Nikolaus Otto. Rudolf is the inventor of the diesel engine and Nikolaus is the inventor of the 4 stroke engine cycle. Not to confuse with a 4 cyclinder engine. The way HCCI works is to use the spark ignition of a gasoline engine to start up and then as it progresses, it will switch to the diesel concept of auto ignition under partial load. Auto ignition under partial load is a way diesel engine ignite the gas air mixture under a tremendous pressure until this mixture combust. This does not requires spark plug to ignite the mixture. But auto ignition under partial load causes vibration and this is why diesel engine rattle and hums differently than a conventional gasoline engine.

The MB F 700 uses a 2 stage turbo charge HCCI 1.8 liter inline 4 engine. The F 700 is also equip with a 20 hp electric motor to propel the car from dead stop. This combination of HCCI and the electric motor give the F 700 a total of 258 hp and 295 lb-ft. It will propel this 3748 lb of machine from 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds with top speed 120 mph (electronically limiter). The gas mileage of this awesome drive system returns a whopping 44 mpg. It also emits very little CO2 and was able to pass the Euro testing.

I hope this new development will soon trickle down to cheaper models of vehicles. Amazing engine .....everything that we dreamt of. I will keep track of this engine development.



Source: Edmunds.com

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