The fastest Honda in the world has a 3cyl engine

Just how quick is the Honda S-Dream Streamliner? Well, on a kilometre-long run at the Bonneville Salt Flats this week, it recorded a two-way average of 261.966mph. That’s Chiron fast, only this thing managed it with 13 fewer cylinders and less than a third of the power. The power of aero, everyone. 

Obviously this is an extreme example, but the S-Dream really goes to show how much a slippery body can affect top speed. Its engine is from Honda’s tiny S660 Roadster – it has just three-cylinders and 660ccs of capacity - but it somehow spirited the S-Dream to a higher top speed than Honda’s old BAR F1 car managed a decade ago. 

The 16-strong development team modified the cylinder block, pistons, crankshaft and valves, added a steel lower block and reinforced connecting rods to give the engine the power and longevity it would need for the run.