Unbelievable Facts About Honda's F-Series
Slideshow: Let's take a look at one of Honda's most incredible engines, and what made it the pound-for-pound best of its era.
Two Versions of the Same Motor
The S2000 received an updated engine in the second generation of the car. Instead of doing what many companies do—a small bump in power to the next generation—Honda chose to increase displacement to 2.2L and increase stroke by 7.9% which are both rather substantial changes to make to your powertrain. A reduction in redline was likely due to the increase in piston speed, but that doesn’t mean anything was turned down on the F22C. Once the variable camshafts engage, the difference between these two motors is apparent. The AP2 pulls harder, but the AP1 allows the driver to shift slightly later. Two very different versions were offered of the same engine.
Highest factory output per of its time
Producing 125hp per liter made the Japanese version of the F20C the top of the food chain at the time. This engine was capable of world record-shattering figures which were only bested by the Ferrari 458—more than any manufacturer can claim without hitting 6 figures. Producing high output for a given displacement means the designer knows how to move air into the cylinder by using the camshafts, valves and other vital principles. That result in efficient delivery of power. These engines were so good you could feel it straight from the factory. Every rpm they climb results in a bigger and bigger smile.
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Gas Mileage
Remember for a moment that we’re talking about an engine which has the world record for output given the tiny 2 liters of air it breathes. The F20C is capable of 25-28mpg on the highway depending on how you drive it. If this doesn’t sound impressive, then maybe we should consider the fact that any car producing numbers even close to this does it with boost…and most of them don’t even get close to this highway cruising number.
>>Join the conversation about the Honda F-series engines right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Super Light
Weight is the enemy of all performance cars. Power to weight is an appropriate representation of how quickly something can hustle. But the brutal facts of life are simple: overall weight kills performance. On that note, the F20C has an ace up its sleeve in the form of overall weight. 326lbs with accessories is light by any standard, which means this power plant punches way above its weight class.
>>Join the conversation about the Honda F-series engines right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
Capable of Huge Numbers
For such a small displacement, people have managed to extract insane numbers out of this family of engines. Of course, turbocharging and alternative fuels are the norm in these situations. But don’t discredit their ability to break axles at the click of a properly tuned ECU. Horsepower figures of 1,600bhp are possible under extreme circumstances, which means this engine isn’t limited by anything other than your budget. Several vehicles with this powertrain have gotten close to the 7-second barrier, with one record-holder reportedly clocking a 7.1 at 192.93mph!
>>Join the conversation about the Honda F-series engines right here in the Honda-Tech Forum!
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