Wyle E. Coyote

I just looked up the S2000 on the new Edmunds.com web site. I can't believe this thing has a 2.0 litre putting out 240 hp! How does Honda continually get so much horsepower out of such tiny engines without the aid of a turbo or supercharger? Is it the VTEC design that's responsible?

------------------
2001 Acura 3.2CL Type-S
Satin Silver/Ebony
No Navi

Wheel locks/35% tint/Splash guards/PIAA 19169 bulbs/K&N 33-2178 air filter/Mobil 1 5W-30 oil & filter

Vampyre

VTEC, 9000+ redline, engine materials and computer programming for maximum engine efficiency. I don't think they could coax much more from that engine in engine mods alone, beyond intake, exhaust, etc etc.

------------------
Andrew S.
2000 Dark Forest Green GTP/GTX
14.413@95.03
My Mod Page

2001 San Marino Red Acura 3.2 CL Type S
* No Mods Yet, though planned *

DtEW

It isn't VTEC that makes 120hp/liter possible. "Normal" engines with super-hot cams are often built to give over 120hp/liter, but just not in production cars. Production cars must idle smoothly and be tractable for street driving, which super-hot-cammed high-output engines are not. VTEC simply provides two cam profiles: normal ones at low RPMs to allow a smooth idle and tractibility to mask the deficiencies of the super-hot ones, which only come into effect at high RPMs.

The S2K's high specific output relative to other VTEC engines is due to:

1. Better balanced components (a la Type R), downside = cost.
2. Higher-rate valve springs to prevent valve float, downside = parasitic drag.
3. Roller cam followers to reduce parasitic drag, downside = cost.
4. Huge air intake and exhaust for good breathing/low loss of torque/efficiency at high RPMs, downside = cost, lower exhaust gas velocity at low RPM/more of a dog at low RPM.

------------------
051/LP/SR/LD/HH

[This message has been edited by DtEW (edited 01-22-2001).]

Jens H.

To put it simply it is called excellent engineering!! Jens

------------------
1992 mazda Miata lowered with Eibach springs KYB AGX adjustable struts Sparco racing buckets 4 point safety harnesses Momo steering wheel lo profile headlite system with PIAA superwhite bulbs Custom audio system Custom gauges Jackson racing supercharger with header and Greddy cat back exhaust and a ton of other stuff 2000 Honda Civic on APEX coilovers Full Alpine Audio system factory fogs with Piaa bulbs Catz ZETA headlamp system tinted custom taillites and on and on

DtEW

Ummm, neither right nor wrong.

For the same cost of Honda building an F20, GM could build a V8 of equal fuel efficiency. (The view that big displacement must equate to bad mileage is a misconception. And the S2K is no fuel miser, either.) The question that needs to be asked is:

Why would a company trade the all-around torque of a simple larger-displacement engine for the peakiness of a complex smaller-displacement engine?

A1. Weight and vehicle balance may be one reason. Small but complex engines are still lighter than large but simple engines.

A2. The company's core competency may be another reason. Honda is experienced at and therefore know how to minimize costs for building small, precise engines. GM is experienced at the other end of the spectrum. If GM for some reason decided to build a Honda-type engine right now, they certainly would be able to (automotive engineering is no rocket science), but it would be at a higher cost than Honda, and vice versa.

A3. Yet another reason is market demand, and that's linked to consumer expectation from each respective company. Supposing GM had Honda build the S2K in secret to be badged and sold as the Buick Regatta. You the average consumer knows nothing about who actually built the car. How would you feel about a loud, tiny and unstable Buick?

So "excellent engineering" isn't exactly what I would say (although Honda engines are finely engineered), since the majority of engines on the market are as well engineered for their respective goals.

------------------
051/LP/SR/LD/HH

[This message has been edited by DtEW (edited 01-22-2001).]

Type S

Powered by honda means engine power..that is why i always buy honda cars..

------------------
2001 Acura Red CL Type S.
1997 Honda Civic EX.
!!!! VTEC Power !!!!
Powered by HONDA
Powered by MUGEN


typescl@yahoo.com