Honda Ballade - Wikipedia The Honda Ballade is a subcompact automobile built by Honda of Japan began as a four-door higher equipment content version of the Civic in 1980. The Ballade was developed at the same time the Honda Vigor appeared, which was a higher content Honda Accord Japan, the Ballade was sold exclusively at Honda Verno dealerships alongside the Vigor, Prelude, CR-X, and Quint. VTEC - Wikipedia VTEC (Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control) is a system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, resulting in higher performance at high RPM, and lower fuel consumption at low RPM VTEC system uses two (or occasionally three) camshaft profiles and hydraulically selects between profiles.