With a normally-aspirated engine, there are two ways to increase power. Either one increases the displacement, or they raise the revs significantly, and the bright minds at Spoon opted for the latter route. By building upon a B16 and improving the valvetrain, the engine note at fill-tilt sounds like a proper racing car. More importantly, the engine revs with a smoothness and a response the factory car desperately needed.

The distinctive black-and-yellow paint scheme of the Spoon EK9 will excite Inital D fans everywhere.

Where the modified mill shows some room for improvement is, ironically, in the highest revs, somewhere above 9500 rpm, where it runs out of steam. Running on stock camshafts, the top end is still untapped territory. In the configuration seen in this video, the 1.6-liter motor made an impressive 200 horsepower. As seen in later installments of this series, the engine was fitted with a proper set of camshafts and capacity increased, netting an incredible 260 horsepower from 1.8 liters.

One added benefit of the extended redline is that it allows for the driver to remain consistently within the VTEC powerband without changing the gear ratios. Whereas the stock car falls below the VTEC crossover point when grabbing another gear, the Spoon car stays well above the 5800-rpm transition point.

This accelerative advantage is best demonstrated on the front straight where the Spoon machine outpaces a well-driven Civic Type R. Despite a fantastic start, the Type R begins to fall behind as soon as its driver reaches for second, and the Spoon car sails by effortlessly, unhampered by the need for a gearchange, while emitting a glorious bark.