16/10/2026
1.8 liters. 195 horsepower. And an 8,400-rpm redline. Honda made the B18C5 without a turbo—and turned it into a legend.
Introduced in the U.S. for the 1997 Acura Integra Type R, the B18C5 was a high-performance version of Honda's B-series four-cylinder family. It helped define an era when Japanese manufacturers were pushing naturally aspirated engines to remarkable levels of performance.
Displacing 1,797 cc (110 cubic inches), the B18C5 produced 195 hp at 8,000 rpm and 130 lb-ft of torque at 7,500 rpm. That's roughly 109 horsepower per liter, all without forced induction.
Getting that much power from a 1.8-liter engine took more than an aggressive camshaft. Honda used a DOHC 16-valve layout, a 10.6:1 compression ratio, and VTEC variable valve timing and lift. High-performance camshafts, carefully finished intake and exhaust ports, and a larger throttle body helped the engine breathe at high RPM.
VTEC played a major role in how the B18C5 delivered its power. At lower engine speeds, it operated on a milder valve profile. As RPM increased, the system switched to a more aggressive profile, allowing the engine to keep pulling toward its 8,400-rpm redline.
The bottom end was built with high engine speeds in mind. A forged-steel crankshaft with eight full counterweights, piston oil jets, and an oil-cooling system helped the B18C5 withstand the demands of sustained high-RPM driving.
In the Integra Type R, Honda paired the engine with a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. The gearing kept the engine in its strongest operating range, while the differential helped put its power down through the front wheels.
The B18C5 wasn't about massive torque or effortless acceleration. It rewarded drivers who kept the revs up, worked through the gears, and used every bit of its 195 horsepower. That's a big part of why enthusiasts still appreciate it today.
