Externally ignited combustion engine with wall section separating at least two cylinders

The engine (10) has a wall portion projected into an exhaust discharge system separating an exhaust pipe of a first exhaust gas-delivering cylinder (30) and an exhaust pipe of a second cylinder over preset distance from exhaust ports. A port i.e. pivot gate, within the wall portion is equipped with an adjustable shutoff element (8) which opens or closes the port so that opened exhaust gas from the first cylinder serves as ignition gas with the port and is introduced into the second cylinder to induce auto-ignition through the exhaust discharge system and the opened port. An independent claim is also included for a spark initiation method.