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In comparison to aluminum, Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) iron has superior mechanical properties, enables the use of parent bore running surfaces and fracture split main bearings, and provides advantageous NVH, package size, cost, and manufacturing CO2 profiles. Despite these advantages, aluminum blocks have leveraged density, and therefore weight, differentials to make considerable gains in the small, in-line passenger vehicle sector over the last 30 years. In order to demonstrate the potential benefits of CGI for small, in-line spark-ignition engines, the present study converted the cylinder block of a series production 1.2 litre three-cylinder engine from aluminum to CGI. Leveraging a novel design concept, with the running surface and load path constructed from high-strength CGI and the outer crankcase housing fabricated from durable, lightweight plastic, the assembled cylinder block achieved the same weight as the original aluminum block.