How VTEC Works: VTEC Explained Simply
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There are few sounds in the car world quite as exciting as the VTEC kick. That sudden surge in power and sound from a high-revving Honda engine has soundtracked countless driving experiences, from legendary sports cars to...well, maybe your neighbor's souped-up civic
It's one of the longest-running and most enthusiastically celebrated pieces of automotive technology. As naturally aspirated engines see a bit of a resurgence, let's dive into what exactly makes VTEC so darn interesting.
Honda has a long history of innovation in naturally aspirated engines, those that rely on good old-fashioned air intake for power, rather than forced induction like turbochargers. Their first major success story in the US was Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion or (CVCC). Introduced in the 1974 Civic during the OPEC oil crisis, CVCC used a pre-chamber in the engine head to achieve more complete fuel burn, making these small Honda motors more efficient and practical than their larger American counterparts.
VTEC emerged from a similar spirit of innovation. By the mid-80s, turbochargers were becoming more common, offering a way to boost power at higher engine speeds. However, turbos have drawbacks - they suffer from lag and were (in the early days) less fuel-efficient. Honda wanted to keep the responsiveness and predictability of natural aspiration, but offer power that could compete with turbocharged cars of the same class.
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