If you’re lucky enough to drive something like a first-gen Honda S2000, which has an engine that revs all the way to 9,000 rpm, you probably know all about the benefits of high revs.
In case you don’t and you’d like a quick crash course, Engineering Explained has got you covered in this latest video, which asks a very simple question: How do some engines rev to 9,000 rpm?
Before we get into the how, let’s talk why. The main reason why you may want a high revving engine is simple. Higher revs equals more power, which is particularly nice to have, especially in a sports car.
A simple way to go about creating a high revving engine is making sure the bore is larger than the stroke. A wider bore also leads to improved airflow at high rpm – F1 and motorcycle engines make for the best examples.
We’re not going to run through all the math in this video, but we will mention that the AP1 S2000 and AP2 S2000 models are directly compared. The latter features a 2.2-liter engine instead of 2.0-liter, and doesn’t rev as high as the first-gen AP1. Don’t worry, though, as it all ties together with the title of the video.