Daimler's DiesOtto Wins French Environmental Prize

Daimler's DiesOtto Wins French Environmental Prize

Mereceds-Benz' prototype "DiesOtto" engine has been awarded the Environmental Grand Prize at the 23rd Festival Automobile International in Paris.

The engine, first shown by Mercedes parent, Daimler, at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, combines the horsepower and cleaner emissions of a gasoline engine with the low-end torque and fuel economy of a diesel.

The concept "provides an important basis for the future of the internal combustion engine" and "demonstrates the great innovative strength of the automobile industry," the prize jury said.

The DiesOtto technology includes direct fuel injection, turbocharging, a variable compression ratio and homogeneous charge compression ignition similar to that of a diesel. The ignition, which takes place deep in the engine cylinders under high compression, assures a cleaner and more complete fuel burn than the conventional gasoline engine's spark-ignition at the top of each cylinder. General Motors Corp. has shown a similar engine, which it calls the HCCI.

Mercedes says that 1.8-liter DiesOtto engine it showed in Frankfurt produces 241 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque and, in a vehicle the size of an S-Class sedan would provide fuel economy of around 40 miles per gallon.

Production could start in 2012, the company said.

While that sounds like a long time off for such a neat technology, GM has said that its version likely won't see production until 2015.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.