Why does this matter? Well, owing to the higher compression and the more even mixture, direct injection engines produce more power AND get better fuel economy. The higher the pressure inside the cylinder, the stronger the "pop" when the mixture ignites.
Taken to the extreme, we get the new Lexus LS, which earns EPA ratings of 19 city and 27 highway despite tipping the scales at over 4,200 pounds and being powered by a 380-horsepower 4.6-liter V8. The previous LS earned ratings of 18 and 25, respectively, despite weighing a couple hundred pounds less and having 102 fewer horses under the hood. Similarly, Volkswagen’s GTI and GLI with their 200-horse 2.0-liter turbo four and nifty DSG transmission earn ratings of 25 city and 31 highway. The old power train, which paired a 180-horsepower 1.8-liter turbo four with a five-speed automatic, managed only 22 city and 29 highway.
Only in the 2006 model year did direct injection become available in the United States in more than one or two models, and it remains far from common. But it should spread quickly over the next few years, and I suspect that in five years the majority of gasoline-powered cars will have it. So you can probably look forward to more power and better fuel economy in your next ride.
Article comments
1 - Michael
Direct injectin is amazing, however it disapointing that the auto manufactures have been so slow to embrace it. Mercedes benz made the technology avalliable in the first fuel injected car in the 50's.
2 - James E., Bell
Why no reference to the GM DI engines
such as the 3.0 & 3.6 V6's ?
3 - Philips
Its amazing technology. I'm suprised sports cars just introduced it. I would have thought BMW would have used it much earlier.
4 - Katty
Basically, it’s a method of more perfectly timing the insertion of fuel into the cylinders of vehicles, increasing ‘pop’ when the fuel pump is ignited. It’s a fuel-economy-without-sacrificing-power technology, and it’s coming to your vehicle.
5 - chris
Direct injection is a piece of shit. what you really get is extreme carbon build-up at just around every 10k plus miles. I clean my bmw intake-valves every 10k miles and these cars are doomed to give you problems down the road. these cars are focused on the outside not the inside and long term reliability.
6 - rob
I would like to see some small engines with direct injection in the 20hp range.