Comparing engine performance of various manufactures is like Boxer vs Boxer. There are many weight classes and rules that boxers must comply. Do you ever see a fight between 150 lbs boxer with 230 lbs boxer ? Did you ever see a boxer follow the fighting rules and the other is allowed to do whatever he wants like kicking or using machete ?
You guys truly don't understand the advance in car's engine design, or refuse to acknowledge the advance of Honda engines.
I'm talking about normally aspirated piston engines that meet US emission control for use on US street in light duty vehicles such as car, SUV, PU ... , don't try to compare non-compliance engine with compliance engine, it isn't Apple to Apple, and don't try to find excuses for the inability of any other car manufacture, BMW included, of not being able to match Honda ability at the time. If there was a best of German engines that closely match or pass the standards set by Honda in 1991 and 2000 show it. Which manufacture, model and year ?
Back in 1991 Honda made 90HP/L with 8k redline for NSX engine. At that time did any German engine approach that benchmark ? How many years later for the best German engine to match the standard set by Honda ? No German engine could produce 80HP/L and/or rev to 8k many years later. Back then every German manufacture claimed that they choose not to design an engine with that high rev because it wasn't reliable, also peak power at high RPM isn't usable for every day driving. Yes, almost 10 years later there were some German engines did match Honda standard of 80HP/L and rev to 8k.
When the best of German engine did match the 1991 Honda standard, Honda set new standard with 120HP/L with 9k redline engine in 2000 S2000, was there a German engine came close to that new standard ?
Again, German manufactures choose to not make engines with that power at that time, but many years later they did manage to make engine rev to 8.5k and higher. Yes, German engines did manage to pass 90-95HP/L in 2000 but didn't manage to pass 100-105HP/L until many years later and so far non passed 120HP/L.
Below are some articles from various magazines and video comparing 1991 NSX and 2000 S2000 with various competitors.
1990 C&D magazine
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/...comparison-test
Quote:
In Europe, where the famous labels first became famous, Ferrari, Lotus, and Porsche have always meant speed. Traditionally, Europe was the only source of Eroticars. Upstart Honda is introducing the NSX, to be sold as an Acura in the U.S. Chevrolet has stepped up with its Corvette ZR-1. Do they belong on the list? The time has come to check credentials again, round up all the players and see where they really stand.
First Place NSX: If you made up a list of mandatories for your Eroticar, then drove an NSX, you'd swear that Honda had snuck a peak at your list.
You'd specify a brilliant engine, one with big power and nice noises and a redline as high as a phone number. The NSX's V-6 is exactly that. It's terrifically flexible around town at 1500 rpm, and it just gets stronger and stronger all the way to eight grand. The music it makes as it climbs would be a hit on CD.
Honda revitalized the motorcycle market in the sixties and reshaped the small-car market in the seventies.
Now it's going to teach the world how to build Learjets for the ground.
2008 C&D magazine.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/most-fun-for-25000-199194-acura-nsx-page-3
Quote:
As a testament to just how far Honda pushed the envelope with its 1991 Acura NSX, compare it with the most sophisticated machinery of today. That first NSX’s 3.0-liter V-6 made 270 horsepower and revved gloriously to its 8000-rpm redline. Almost 18 years later, BMW’s direct-injection 3.0-liter (in the Euro-only 330i) makes 268 horsepower.
The NSX’s lightweight aluminum sheetmetal surrounds a fascinating 3000-pound wedge that still looks fresh today (if you don’t count the tiny 15- and 16-inch wheels). Combined with first-rate comfort and ergonomics, and a docile, aluminum-intensive unequal-length control-arm suspension, it’s easy to see how the NSX quickly won our hearts as well as a distinguished victory over a Porsche 911, a Corvette ZR-1, and a Ferrari 348ts in a 1990 comparison test.
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/...omparison-tests
C&D Aug 2003: 2003 Audi TT vs.BMW Z4, Honda S2000, Nissan 350Z, Porsche Boxster
Fourth Place: 2003 BMW Z4 3.0, Third Place 2003: Porsche Boxster and First Place: Honda S2000.
2003 BMW Z4 is a new design to replace 2000 Z3, Z4 had 3 I6 engines(2.5L 2.8L and 3.9L) available in 2003 3 years after Honda introduced S2000 in 2000. 3 years(with much improve computing power) to catch up with Honda but did BMW manage to ? Did BMW 3L engine beat Honda 2L engine in a race track ?
Quote:
BMW Z4: Sports cars are supposed to be individualists. This one never misses an opportunity. All the gauges are crammed onto two tunneled dials. The tunnels seem to line up with Uranus instead of your gaze. The numbers on the speedo are sized like the fine print on a leasing contract. The Ultimate Squinting Machine!
That said, the record shows that the Z4 makes bigger numbers on the test track than any of the others, if only by a shade. The 5.3-second 0-to-60 squeaked ahead of the Honda by 0.1 second and out front of the Nissan by twice that. The quarter-mile blurs past in 14 seconds flat, again 0.1 second ahead of the Honda.
Honda S2000: This is a scalpel-quick sports car when you keep it boiling,
quickest of the bunch around the BeaveRun road course, barely behind the Z4 in acceleration, even though it gives away a full liter of displacement. Think intensity. Think fury.
An I6 3L BMW engine beat I4 2L Honda engine by a whopping 0.1sec to 60MPH and 1/4 mile. BMW should be applauded for this achievement(who cares about 2 extra cylinders and 1L extra displacement that BMW has in Z4, also who cares about BMW Z4 costs $12,000 more than S2000 ?)
S2000 I4 2L vs Z4 I6 3L vs Boxter S Boxer 6 3.2L vs 350Z V6 3.5L vs Crossfire V6 3.2L vs SLK55 AMG V8 5.5L.
The fastest qualify lap started at the rear, slowest started at the front. Boxter S started on second position, Z4 started at third position and S2000 started on 5th position.
SLK55 AMG out-classes every car with its 5.5L engine, Crossfire V6 3.2L was out-classed by every car.
Within 10 seconds S2000 was death last, but it passed Z4 before end of 1st lap.
If the staring lineup was based on qualifying lap then Boxter S(with 3.2L engine) could not finish second place.
How good was 2L engine in the S2000 ? It can keep up with the big boys with up to 50-60% more displacement.
If BMW engines were as good as Honda engine then Z4 with I6 2.5L should beat S2000 with I4 2.0L, 25% more displacement is similar to 187 lbs boxer vs 150 lbs boxer. BMW 225 lbs boxer couldn't beat Honda 150 lbs boxer(225 lbs is 50% heavier than 150 lbs, similar to 3L engine vs 2L engine).
For someone who think Wankel engine is better than piston engine watch this video.