For the purpose of this argument I will refer to the VTEC transition where the wilder cam is in operation (5850 RPM+) as.. "in VTEC" or "VTECing" even though your engine is operating using VTEC technology from idle to redline.

As everyone here well knows, our cars and other DOHC VTEC hondas have a marked increase in torque and power past a certain VTEC transition point, below that, then not much is happening (relatively speaking). So say you've entered a corner and misjudged your gear so when exiting and powering out form the apex you are not "in VTEC" thus have little thrust until power builds again once in VTEC. This "lag" for want of a better term is something intrinsic in our Honda motors because of the VTEC technology and the power delivery characteristics. However, it is never referred to as "lag" but "normal NA 4 cylinder power" until you hit "all-out-ballistic-VTEC-banshee-screaming-zone". It is never criticised as most people accept that is part of the package and like motors that are high revving and with a bi-polar nature, much like a race engine.

However, when people are commenting and driving turbo cars (especially the ealier ones from the 80s-90s and even more current ones with bigger turbos) there is the often lamented fact that it has "turbo lag", that is the torque hole before the turbo spools and builds up boost.

Now isn't that similar to our VTEC engine? However the B16A, H22A and F20C are all heralded as great engines even though their nature below VTEC crossover is similar to 'turbo lag'. What gives?

I guess the advantage of NA is that you get linear and precise power delivery at the flick of your right foot relative to the RPM of your engine, so applying X amount of pressure at 4000RPM for example will always give you X amount of thrust, however with a turbo car, say at 4000RPM you let of the throttle and the turbo is off boost, flexing your right foot again will not give you the same accelerative thrust as you had if you were on boost, even at the same RPM. This of course would have a pronounced negative effect in balancing the car in mid-corner.

However for the sake of argument, if it was straight line dragging, and boost in the turbo car would not build until 3000RPM then that "lag" wouldn't be any different to a VTEC car below VTEC crossover.

Sorry for the rambling or incoherence of my post but a review of the WRX STI criticising its turbo lag got me thinking about our VTEC engines....

 

The WRX STi has a very good engine to start off with (EJ25T), so even without boost it's a fast car. Sure, when the turbo spools you're gonna break your neck, but when there's no boost it still has plenty of power.


-Matt