General

What Is VTEC?

2001 Acura Integra Type R VTEC

VTEC is a trademark of the Honda Motor Company. It stands for “variable valve timing and lift electronic control” and represents a system that helps improve the efficiency of Honda engines by using computerized engine controls. Honda and Acura automobiles and Honda motorcycles use VTEC on various models.

Honda originally designed the VTEC system in the early 1980s to improve the horsepower of 4-cylinder engines without decreasing fuel efficiency. Since then, other manufacturers have developed similar designs. The VTEC engine configuration allows cars to go quicker while preserving their ability to save gasoline. The system was the first to use multiple camshaft profiles so that the engine works equally well at high and low revolutions per minute (rpm). This feature means that your engine will run effectively regardless of the vehicle’s speed.

Other manufacturers use electronically controlled variable valve and lift timing, including Toyota, Porsche, BMW, and Nissan, but only Honda can call their system “VTEC.”