Funny that you mention this. Auto manufacturers have been researching electromechanical actuators to replace the mechanical valvetrain. I remember seeing photog

Funny that you mention this. Auto manufacturers have been researching electromechanical actuators to replace the mechanical valvetrain. I remember seeing photographs of some of the prototypes sometime during the early 90s. With the current state of engine technology it's safe to assume that a similar thing will be introduced in the next ten years. They already have the injector in the combustion chamber area and throttle by wire with variable length intake manifolds. Plus the engine controls have a much better capacity of understanding what's going on.