[Editor’s Note: This article originally ran in our December 2017 issue.]
The end of an era is upon us: The Honda Civic Si no longer features VTEC, as the automaker has replaced its trick variable valve timing technology with turbocharging. The makers of those “VTEC inside” decals will have to find new subject matter.
Back in the very early ’90s, VTEC was almost the stuff of science fiction. Honda had created camshafts that featured the best of both worlds–a pair of cam profiles, with one for improved performance at lower engine speeds and another for high-rpm work. Switching between profiles happened magically, and the system was nearly foolproof, too.
VTEC made its American debut with the 1991 Acura NSX, the brand’s then-new supercar. Thanks to VTEC, the car’s twin-cam, 3.0-liter V6 engine produced 270 horsepower–still a strong figure today for the displacement.
When Honda unveiled a new Civic lineup for the 1992 model…
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