Internal combustion engine-preferably of in-line construction, especially for motor vehicles

An internal combustion engine, especially for motor vehicles, which includes cylinder block means forming with cylinder walls thereof cylinder means cast together at least pair-wise with the cylinder walls in the portion of the cylinder block means disposed between adjacent cylinder means integrally cast together along substantially the entire length thereof, characterized in that the engine is of in-line construction, passage means for cooling water being arranged between the cast-together cylinder means in the area adjacent the surface separating the cylinder block means from a cylinder head, said passage means including narrow slot means, which has a depth corresponding at least approximately to that of a piston ring arrangement of the piston at top dead-center position, intersecting adjacent cooling water spaces and completely separating, in a lateral direction of the cylinder walls, said portion of the cast-together cylinder means, and wherein the slot means extends laterally into the cylinder head bolt bores at the interface between the cylinder block means and the cylinder head.