I haven't driven for years, but when I glance at the rev counter in cars when I'm getting a lift to a ride, I usually see 3000 rpm…
The v-tec is completely different to most other engines. They drive like rather ordinary engines at normal rev ranges, but when the v-tec switchover takes place, you're moved over to a race / rally style cam, with lots and lots of power at high revs.
Not really my cup of tea, but it's a great way of having a high power small capacity engine that you can actually live with day to day – if they were on the v-tec cam all the time, there'd be absolutely no low down power, terrible fuel consumption etc.