S-Dream streamliner is now the fastest Honda car

If you are a speed enthusiast, you would be aware that the modified BAR F1 held the title of the fastest Honda vehicle with a speed of 397.360 kph (246.908 mph) at Bonneville. It is time to update your knowledge because a machine with a 660cc engine has now broken that ten-year-old record.

It all started when 16 volunteers from their R&D centre in Japan were chosen for the internal Bonneville Speed Challenge. The only goal of the team was to design a car that can "achieve world speed record with a 660cc engine."

The S-Dream clocked a speed of 421.447 kph (261.875 mph). The three-cylinder engine was originally designed for the S660 sports car. Various parts of the engine including pistons, cylinder block, valves and crankshaft were renewed. The idea was to garner more than three times the power from the engine. The lower block was replaced by a steel unit and connecting rods reinforced to achieve rigidity.

Just like Rome was not built in a day, the S-Dream could not reach the desired speed despite several attempts at Bonneville Speed Weeks. Later, Honda was invited to Mike Cook's shoot out at Bonneville where the history was rewritten.