A direct injection engine is also easier to start when cold, due to more efficient placing and usage of glowplugs.

Use of a precombustion chamber also reduced stress on the engine's structure, so that it could be made less heavy than a direct injection engine.

The indirect injection engine could be considered the latest development of these low speed hot bulb ignition engines.

Last week we talked about gasoline direct injection engines that are starting to appear in cars from every major manufacturer.

The 2-litre, 121bhp injection engine is smooth and responsive, with ample power both to 0 to 60mph in 9l6 seconds, and to top out at 125mph.

The DiTech model used an injection engine, with technology from Orbital.

This is especially the case with indirect injection engines, which are less thermally efficient.

Due to the design of the combustion chambers in indirect injection engines, these are the best engines for use with vegetable oil.

The 1.8-litre direct injection engine arrives later and will be the pick of the bunch, performance-wise.

In Europe, the N53 direct injection engine is used in 528i and 530i.