Bosch Automotive A product history

44 | Supplement 2 | Journal of Bosch History
This system required an intervention in the
Motronic system to reduce engine speed
until wheel spin ceased – something that
would be inconceivable without electronic
control of injection and ignition. To ensure
that these increasingly complex controls
worked properly, Bosch introduced additional
self-diagnosis functions from 1987
on. These were capable of recognizing and
correcting malfunctions.
Direct injection, stratified fuel charge,
and downsizing
In 2000, Bosch returned to an idea that
had caused a stir when it featured in the
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of 1954: direct
injection. The innovative thing about the
“DI-Motronic” at the time was its stratified
fuel charge. This process involved the
burning of a small amount of rich air-fuel
mixture close to the spark plug, which in
turn allowed the burning of a lean mixture
in the rest of the combustion chamber and
a subsequent reduction of fuel consumption
by as much as 10 percent.
Downsizing is another way of reducing
fuel consumption. In this case, the engine
displacement or the number of cylinders
is reduced while a turbocharger increases
power. A combination of variable valve
control, turbocharging, and gasoline direct
injection reduces fuel consumption considerably
while the engine’s power and
torque remain the same. In conjunction
with further measures, such as the startstop
system, fuel consumption can be reduced
by as much as 30 percent as compared
to conventional engines.
Left:
Testing “Motronic” at the Automotive
Engineering Center in Schwieberdingen,
near Stuttgart (1984). In 1979, the
Motronic installed in the BMW 732i
was the first system to manage injection
and ignition from a single control unit.
Right:
A laser process enables the injection
jet to be measured precisely. Optimizing
the injection valve in this way lowers
consumption, increases output, cuts
emissions, and results in smoother
operation (2005).
1987 1991 1995 2000 2001
2005
On-board diagnosis
for exhaust-gas
monitoring
Motronic with
CAN bus
Motronic with
“electronic gas
pedal” (EGAS)
Motronic and injection
components
for gasoline direct
injection (GDI)
Motronic with 32-bit
microprocessor
Electro-hydraulic
transmission control
module