An internal combustion engine is operated in accordance with a Miller cycle. The engine includes a piston disposed in the engine cylinder and configured to reciprocate between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position of the engine cylinder. An air intake valve is coupled to the cylinder. The air intake valve is closed when the piston is about the bottom dead center position in the engine cylinder. An exhaust valve is coupled to the engine cylinder. The exhaust valve is opened for a predetermined time period when the piston is about the bottom dead center position of the engine cylinder after closing the intake valve so as to exhaust a predetermined quantity of fresh charge from the engine cylinder via the exhaust valve.