Re: VTEC
 

well actually no. MOST of the variable valve timing technology is designed to alter the intake and exhaust valve opening/closing rates to improve engine breathing AT HIGH RPMs. Running in this valve timing profile in low RPM will actually DECREASE torque output, as the air is not flowing in fast enough to fill the intake and exhaust valve's needs, and the engine bogs down.

that's the gist of variable valve timing and what its main objective is. The details I cannot explain as I did not take the time to study into it. But to answer your question, changing the timing to open up the alternative valve timing profile at a lower rpm MAY increase top-end power output, but it will almost certainly KILL any tiny bits of low RPM torques these high revving 4 cylinders have....

Edwin or Jesse or anyone more informed can go ahead and correct any misinformation that I may have pulled out of my a$$, but I think I've cut that to a minimum :p

There's specific timings that make the engine run optimally at different RPMs. Ferarri implements cam lobes which are elongated from side to side to allow for highly optimized cam timing at every engine speed. As RPMs increase, the camshaft slides sideways a bit and that way the timing changes and the engine always performs very well.

VTEC is basically the same thing, but the timing is optimized for only one narrow band of engine speed (on my friend's Si it kicks in at around 5500 rpm and goes all the way up to 8200 rpm).