The invention relates to a reciprocating
internal combustion engine with direct injection operating according to a modified Otto or
Diesel cycle in order to re- duce the
operating temperature, when maximum power is not required, with a consequent reduction in heat loss. The engine subject of the invention absorbs minimal power in the suction phase and makes it possible, when maximum power is not required, to increase the
compression ratio and consequently the efficiency. The engine subject of the invention provides, for each cylinder, the use of two check valves in the suction
pipe and a motorized
inlet valve whose opening cycle varies according to the required power. According to a variant of the engine subject of the invention, the latter allows the replacement of the re- sidual burnt gases present in the
combustion chamber of each cylinder with air and recirculated gases, pre-loading one of the two check valves mentioned above. The engine subject of the invention therefore allows the replacement of the residual burnt gases with air in order to further reduce the operating tem- peratures of the engine at the same required power, or to increase its filling, and therefore the power, at the same
operating cycle.