beautifullyengineered:

Honda’s VTEC System is Beautifully Engineered

VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles.

VTEC was initially designed to increase the power output of an engine to 100 PS/liter or more while maintaining practicality for use in mass production vehicles. VTEC was introduced as a DOHC system in the 1989 Honda Integra, whose engine produced 160 horsepower from 1.6 liters.

It should also be noted that none of the VTEC systems ever manufactured have suffered a mechanical failure.

(via nick111)