Originally posted by 90TGP
Domestic companys aren't that far behind. Over head cam motors aren't new. And VVT technology was used on airplanes in WWII. Also, Ford had the first patent on VVT back in 76-77, and Toyota one year later. Honda was only the first company to use it in a production vehicle, NSX.
If I remember correctly, the CRX Si was the first Honda to get fuel injection back in the late 80s. Chevrolet had fuel injected Corvettes since the 60s.
If you can remember an old motor called the Chrysler Slant-6 [6 cylinder] from the 60s and 70s, it got 35mpg back in the 70s.
1920's Ford Model T with 16V DOHC
http://members.tripod.com/~juan_espero/fronty2.gif
A lot of the "technology" used in a lot of Japanese imports were originally American or European designs. They just took the research farther and refined it.
Sure, OHC motors are great for gas milage. But ANY motor will be reliable if you TAKE CARE of it. I bet if you took a B16 motor and never changed the oil, never changed the transmission fluid, never changed the air filter, and just let the motor go with no maintance, it would die just like everyother motor out there. Well except the Slant-6, that motor can take anything you dish out on it [it's known as the only Indestructable motor ever made].
As Carrol Shelby said: Cheap, Light, Durable. Pick two because you can't have all three.
While alot of what you said
might be true (I emphaise might), the domestics have bigger dreams than their engineers can produce. I know darn well that alot of great automotive ideas stem from Detroit first, then everyone else follows suit. Again, they can dream big, but the Japs can walk the walk. The fact that Honda didn't use FI untill the 1980's doesn't mean that, unlike domestic big milti-barrel carbed gas hog polutinous tanks, the cars were hard to start or reliable, efficient, and clean (Civic CVCC ring a bell?). If Chevy operated like Honda, the ZR1 would still be in production and have VVT by now. You could balance a dime on the valve cover at full throttle, and the switch gear, radio, and dash trim would not be out of an Impalla.