A compression ignition internal combustion engine in which the temperature and
pressure in the combustion chamber are increased to self-ignite an air-fuel mixture
with the compressive operation of a piston after closing of the intake valve. An
ECU [1] controls injection timing of the pressurized air depending on the
ignition timing. Self-ignition timing can be controlled to a proper timing in a
wide engine operating range with respect to a load and a revolution speed without
substantially changing the shape of the combustion chamber.