A company called Adrenaline Research have developed (1999) an new ignition system.
Uses a standard CDi to drive the initial spark but then puts a 100A (YUP!) over the same path using a radio technology microwave channel.
The Plasma ignition can fire 22:1 air:fuel ratios and at normal stoichimetric ratios burns all the fuel even from cold. In F1 they recon its worth between 3-5% in hp!
Showed the stuff to a radio ham friend who builds his own kit.
He said it would work but the tricky part would be making small and packaged for a car.
The SmartFire unit is the sixe of two coffee mugs.
Looked at their web site $50,000 for a setup is a little outside my range!
See
http://www.atlasf1.com/99/oct06/burckmyer.html http://www.adrenalineresearch.com/
(Its slow!)
IanC