The use of a combined starter/generator integrated into the drive train of an automobile offers several possibilities for improvement of fuel economy The use of such a starter/generator system is made feasible by a switch from a 14 volts electrical system to a 42 volts system, however, the sizing of the components is not a trivial problem. This study combines a dynamic electromechanical model of the starter, battery and power electronics with the nonlinear mechanics of the piston/crankshaft system and a thermofluid model of the compression and expansion processes to investigate the cold start problem. The example involves the start of an eight cylinder engine at -25 degrees Celsius. This paper shows how the mechatronic V8 engine of an automotive starter/generator system for the startability works well.