The DI diesel engine has an advantage in terms of fuel economy, but disadvantages with respect to exhaust emissions and large combustion noise. To overcome these drawbacks, we have previously proposed the Modulated Kinetics (MK) concept [1,2] of low-temperature, premixed combustion. This paper presents the results of an investigation into the potential of a new combustion system to reduce combustion noise and improve emission performance simultaneously. As a result of applying heavy EGR and retarding the injection timing, combustion excitation forces are reduced without any increase in exhaust emissions, and with reduction of fuel injection system noise.