Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection comprising at least two adjacent inlet valves (1) per cylinder, a number of outlet valves (2), an essentially coaxial spark plug (3), an injection valve (4) and a piston (5,5′). The aim of the inventive engine is to provide an improved mixture preparation which is characterized by low fuel consumption and low exhaust emissions. To this end, the injection valve (4) is arranged between two of the adjacent inlet valves (1) and the section of the cylinder wall adjacent to said inlet valves (1). in addition, the piston (5,5′) has a longitudinally extended combustion chamber cavity (6), whereby the combustion chamber cavity (6) essentially extends along the front surface of the piston (5,5′) in the direction of the vertical projection of an injection stream (E) exiting from the injection valve (4). Said cavity also comprises a step (7) which essentially runs in a transversal direction.