Here’s Why Affordable High-Revving Cars Have Disappeared

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      Once, owning a high-revving engine didn’t require spending a fortune. However, today it's a rarity. Currently, there are no cars available under $100,000 with an 8,000-rpm redline. What changed? Where did things go awry? This topic is explored in the latest video from The Drive’s YouTube channel.

      Recently, we had the opportunity to see a Honda S2000 CR, which racer and professional driving instructor Nik Romano used to debunk the myth of snap oversteer. The S2000 is well-known for reasons beyond its reputation as a dangerous sports car; it’s also celebrated for its extremely high-revving four-cylinder engine, which could reach 9,000 rpm in the initial AP1 models and a more moderate 8,200 rpm in the updated AP2 version. The CR, of course, belongs to the latter category.

      The evolution of the S2000 helps explain the decline of high-revving engines in the market. The 2.0-liter F20C engine produces an impressive 237 horsepower for a naturally aspirated vehicle, achieving those numbers by revving quickly.

      However, this high rev range comes at the cost of low-end torque, leaving the original S2000 with only 153 lb-ft. Consequently, Honda extended the F20C’s stroke to increase the displacement to 2.2 liters for the AP2 models but also reduced the fuel cutoff by about 800 rpm. As Nik succinctly notes, “As the engine turns faster, the valves open for less time. So when you need air the most, you have the least amount of time to get air into and out of the cylinders.”

      Moreover, building engines capable of handling these demands is not only challenging but also costly. High-revving engines require lighter, stiffer components. Each part must be designed to endure speeds of 8,000 rpm and higher. This is what makes unique examples like the 2005 Toyota Corolla XRS intriguing. This was an otherwise typical and unexciting Corolla in every respect, except for its 2ZZ engine—the same engine used by Lotus in the Elise and Exige. It was, and remains, a thrilling ride, as Nik showcases.

      Ultimately, a more economical method of directing air efficiently in an engine involves “giving it a little push,” as our driver puts it. This brings us to the widespread use of turbocharging today, which provides a means to exceed the basic limits of power relative to engine displacement. Yes, forced induction can enhance both output and efficiency, pun intended. However, with a turbo, the essence of high-revving cars from the past is lost. Even if that car happens to be a rather bland-looking mid-2000s Corolla.

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