Not Motorcycle Related Yet - But Interesting

[CB4ME_imp]

Gasoline engines without spark plugs!

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/01/16/mazda...hcci-2018/

[Cormanus]

Meant to say, CB4ME, I found that interesting.

[the Ferret]

What octane of gasoline would you have to use for an 18:1 compression ratio?

[redbirds_imp]

With compression ignition I would imagine low octane would be needed because it ignites easier than high octane.

[johnf514_imp]

Interested in longevity testing for this technology. How well does it work after 100K miles? After 5K starts?

A lot of automotive tech is surging right now, but I feel that much of it is getting beta tested on current production models and we are unknowingly buying up unproven advancements. Ecotec powerplants come to mind.

[ClassicVW_imp]

Why spend so much R&D money on an internal combustion engine at this point in time? Just to save $4 in spark plugs?
And if everyone else has been working on this high compression technology but failed to develop it in a cost effective way, what did Mazda figure out, or are they cutting corners somewhere?