Industry's First Mass-Produced Piezo Direct Injection Gasoline Application by Siemens VDO Featured on Two of Ward's 10 Best Engines

DETROIT, Jan. 10, 2007 -- The industry's first piezo direct injection gasoline (DIG) engine has broken into Ward's 10 Best Engine List of 2007. The BMW 335i Twin Turbo 3-liter power plant was honored on Jan. 10 at the Renaissance Center in Detroit during the 13th rendition of the annual competition recognizing automotive powertrain excellence. Siemens VDO's piezo direct injection technology, which is the industry's first mass- produced application for a gasoline-powered engine, delivers fuel to the award-winning engine.

Viewed as an emerging technology trend, direct injection is featured on three of Ward's 10 Best engines -- only one is equipped with Siemens VDO's highly precise piezo injection technology. According to Bill Visnic's statements in a recent Ward's AutoWorld article, the number of DIG engine variants in North America and the rest of the world are increasing. Visnic also stated the publication expects to see more engines featuring DIG technology on the list next year.

Going Green and Packing a Punch

Siemens VDO's piezo direct injection gasoline technology was first seen on BMW's 335i Twin Turbo 3-liter engine at the 2006 Geneva Auto Show last April. This powerful 300 hp engine illustrates that piezo technology, in combination with an intelligent charging concept, can deliver an increase in torque on homogenously charged engines. Piezo direct injection gasoline technology enables customers to take a more direct route in their efforts to meet impending fuel economy regulations by offering a highly precise injection technology improving vehicle fuel economy.

Direct injection fuel delivery injects gasoline directly into the engine's combustion chamber, enabling the vehicle to start with less fuel, while simultaneously improving vehicle drivability and emissions.

Award-Winning Engine Applications

Siemens VDO's engine management technology is featured on six of the 10 engines. The six "Best Engines" showcasing the company's powertrain innovations include:

  -- BMW AG's 3L DOHC I-6 (Z4 3.0si) featuring Siemens VDO's:
     - Electronic Throttle Control Actuator
     - DEKA 7 Injection system
     - Electronic Control Unit
     - Active Crank Position Sensor
     - ACAM Sensor
     - Knock Sensor
     - NOx Sensor
     - Mass Air Flow Sensor

  -- BMW AG 3L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i) featuring Siemens VDO's:
     - Electronic Throttle Control Actuator
     - High Pressure Fuel Pump
     - Piezo D12 Injector
     - Electronic Control Unit
     - Active Crank Position Sensor
     - ACAM Sensor
     - Knock Sensor
     - Smart Coolant Pump
     - Temperature/Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor

  -- DaimlerChrysler AG 3L DOHC V-6 turbodiesel (Mercedes-Benz E320
     Bluetec/Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD) featuring Siemens VDO's:
     - Temp Sensor
     - NOx Sensor

  -- DaimlerChrysler AG Hemi 5.7L OHV V-8 (Chrysler 300C) featuring Siemens
     VDO's:
     - Integrated Air Fuel Module, including the intake manifold, fuel rail
       assembly, fuel injectors and Electronic Control throttle body
     - Electronic Control Unit
     - Air Cleaner Assembly
     - Clean Air Hoses/Resonator Assemblies

  -- Ford Motor Co. Duratec 35 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX)
     featuring Siemens VDO's:
     - Cam, Crank and Knock Sensors

  -- Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35) featuring Siemens
     VDO's:
     - Knock sensor drive

Siemens VDO currently is pursuing a dual strategy of solenoid-actuated and piezo-actuated direct injection to address the needs of diverse customer market segments and models. The core components of both these gasoline direct injection systems are the injectors, the EMS 2 engine management system with corresponding software and a high-pressure fuel pump.

Siemens VDO is a leading international automotive electronics and mechatronic supplier. The group is part of Siemens AG and generated sales of $12.120 billion (euro 10.017 billion) in the 2006 business year (ending Sept. 30).