the thing that always kicks in, yo!

VTEC=Variable timing and lift electronic control.

Honda's name for their variable valve timing system that happens to include electronic lift control. (See also : MIVEC, VVTL-i, VariCam Plus, VANOS, and VVL. )

For combustion engines, it allows the increase of air and fuel consumption when VTEC is engaged.

Due to its "lift control", VTEC doesn't engage until higher RPMs to save fuel. Once engaged however, fuel economy drops significantly as performance increases by 20 - 30 horsepower with an increase of torque efficiency.

To market their "economy" cars, Honda used VTEC to have higher horse-power claims. Most of their horsepower claims are at high RPM marks (7,500 or higher), whereas other motor companies make their claims at lower RPM marks (5,500 or below).

This confused most buyers as they thought that engaging their VTEC would allow for them to enjoy peak fuel economy AND peak performance at the same time (hence grew the term to mock VTEC-users; "vtak just kicked in yo!")

To add to the illusion of performance (but keep the status of "economy car"), most VTEC-motors were dropped into chassis with a front-wheel drive drive train (with the S2000 and NSX exempt).

Due to their front-wheeled drive pull, some VTEC users became euphoric in what seemed to be a "fast" car(though it was mostly because of the "pull" force from the car being a FWD vehicle).

Ultimately, the concept of variable valve timing and lift control is now used by other car companies.

VTEC - Variable Valve timing and Lift Electronic Control and is an electronic and mechanical system in some Honda engines that allows the engine to have multiple camshafts. VTEC engines have an extra intake cam with its own rocker, which follows this cam. The profile on this cam keeps the intake valve open longer than the other cam profile. At low engine speeds, this rocker is not connected to any valves. At high engine speeds, a piston locks the extra rocker to the two rockers that control the two intake valves.

variable valve timing and lift control. several other car companies use the same thing but with different acronims:
Honda: vtec
Nissan: VVL
Ford: VTC.
ect.

even though they are essentialy the same, each one dose have it's flaws for example:

vtec has very little torque.
VVL parts are rare and hard to come by.
VTC only works on the intake cam.

a type of head and engine management that combined have less torque than a premature baby turning a hand wrench.

A "performance enhancing technology" employed by Honda in its "high-performance" "engines."