![]() ![]() As with VTEC, the MIVEC system used camshafts with low- and high-speed lobes, dual rocker arms, and a hydraulically controlled lever that would engage either rocker depending on engine speed. No wonder there are rabid MIVEC fans all over the Internet, telling tales of MIVEC engine swaps and 7-second 0- to 100-mph sprints. The 1.6L MIVEC motor peaked at nearly 175 hp, which at the time was the "highest unit power output for a non-supercharged production engine anywhere in the world." The other two motors weren't bad, either-the 2.0L made just shy of 200 hp, and the 3.0L churned out a tick over 265 horses. So why are we talking about mid-'90s Japanese technology? These were pretty respectable machines in their day. VTC reduces emissions and improves fuel economy to help Honda meet the ever-stricter engine regulations here and in Japan. While the VTC system does help the engine make power, that's a side benefit to the corporation's real target: efficiency. Crack open the throttle, and the cam will advance to open the intake valve sooner and build in more valve overlap, which improves midrange responsiveness.Honda plans to have added this "i" technology to all of its four-cylinder engines by the time you read this., but does this mean Type-S cars for everyone? Hardly. So when you're sitting at a stoplight, for example, the cam is almost fully retarded to provide a smoother idle and reduce NOx emissions. Here's how it works: The VTC actuator monitors a number of engine inputs-cam position, ignition timing, throttle position, and more-and then sends pressurized oil to chambers inside the cam's drive sprocket to advance or retard the cam's position relative to the crankshaft. VTC is similar to BMW's VANOS system, which adjusts the phasing of the intake camshaft to continuously match the engine's air and fuel needs. The "i" is really a less cumbersome way for Honda to say it has added Variable Timing Control (VTC) to VTEC. ![]() The Civic Si and both RSX models also share the new "intelligent" VTEC system, called i-VTEC. ![]()
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