in 1995 honda sold the civic vx. the vtec e engine used variable cam timing and a hydraulically actuated secondary intake valve. coupled with a 5 speed manual transmission and a nifty shift light it got 56 mpg or better. it had more horsepower than the standard dx model and almost as much as the hot rod si version. with a hatch back and fold down rear seats you could haul 8 foot long 2 x 4s. due to lack of sales the vx was not brought back in 1996. we bought a vx new in 1995, in 2006 handed it down to our son. this year it was finally retired with 185000 miles needing repairs for state inspection that were too expensive to justify. 56 mpg with technology from 16 years ago. anyone who thinks fuel efficient cars are too expensive or too complex to build need simply to look at whats already been done.