Internal combustion engine and method of operating same

This application claims the priority of German Application No. 101 21 388.3 filed May 2, 2001, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. An internal combustion engine has a preparation device for fuel, for the purpose of providing a starting fuel which comprises low-boiling fuel constituents. A catalytic converter is accommodated in an exhaust train of the internal combustion engine. After-treatment of the exhaust gases is carried out by a secondary air device, by means of the combustion being carried out with an excess of starting fuel for rich-burn operation during the cold start and the subsequent warm-up phase. The system is provided for spark-ignition mixture-compressing or spark-ignition direct injection internal combustion engines.