- Honda
- 2016
- Honda Civic
- sports cars
- sedan
- auto shows
- Los Angeles Auto Show
Originally created as the range-topping performance model of the Honda Civic, but superseded by the Type R in the mid-1990s, the Civic Si is about to get a major update and adopt the redesigned exterior and drivetrain of the tenth-generation model. Set to hit the market in 2017 in both coupe and sedan body styles, the new Civic Si made its debut in prototype form at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Described as a vehicle that closely previews the production model, the prototype wears a full Factory Performance aero kit, including front and rear splitters, rear spoiler, a center-mounted polygonal exhaust finisher, and 19-inch, 10-spoke forged aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance tires. Shown in coupe form only, the Civic Si displayed at the American car show is finished in a sporty looking Rallye Red Pearl.
The interior of the Si also bridges the gap between the standard model and the Type R. The show car features Si-exclusive front sport seats with red stitching and logos. The red stitching carries through to the door panels, steering wheel, and leather shift boot with aluminum shift knob. The cabin also features a red driver’s TFT meter and audio system illumination, aluminum sport pedals, and Dry Metal Carbon instrument panel trim
So far so good, but what about the drivetrain? Honda says that the Si gets its juice from a higher performance version of the new 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine equipped with dual variable cam timing, but doesn’t say a word about. But, given that the standard unit cranks out 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet, the Si could have close to 200 horses. The turbocharged engine mates to a six-speed manual transmission for a more exhilarating experience, while a new active damper system, active steering system, and limited-slip differential enhance the car’s racing skills.
Both the Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan will launch next year. A specific table is not yet available, but it should arrive before the track-ready Civic Type-R.
Continue reading for the full story.
Why it matters
The fact that it’s not the most powerful and aggressive looking car from the Civic lineup is what makes the Si such an appealing car. While the Type R provides more thrills at the race track, its aggressive tuning doesn’t make it the best car to drive on public roads. The Si, on the other hand, is both a reliable daily driver and a performance-oriented Civic that gets the job done when pushed harder on the highway or even a race track. The fact that it’s not as expensive as the Type R and that it comes in both coupe and sedan forms makes it that much more appealing to a larger crowd.
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Press Release
The Honda Civic Si Prototype made its global debut today, giving Honda enthusiasts a good look at the design and performance direction for the 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan, both launching next year. The Civic Si Prototype will be on display at the 2016 Los Angeles International Auto Show where it will be joined by its Civic Sedan, Coupe and Hatchback siblings, plus the radical Civic Type-R Prototype, providing the first public opportunity to see all five Civic variants. This will also be the first time the Type-R interior will be shown.
The shimmering Rallye Red Pearl Civic Si Prototype features a full Factory Performance (HFP) aero kit, including front and rear splitters and rear spoiler, plus a center-mounted polygonal exhaust finisher and 19-inch 235/35Y high-performance tires mounted on HFP 19 x 8J 10-spoke forged aluminum alloy wheels.
The 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan will be powered by a high-performance, high-torque 1.5-liter, directed-injected and turbocharged DOHC in-line 4-cylinder engine with dual variable cam timing (dual VTC) mated to a short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission. Additional performance upgrades for the Si variants will include a new active damper system, active steering system, limited-slip differential and available high-performance tires.
"With the new Honda Civic Si, we’re injecting even more sporty goodness into our 10th-generation Civic lineup," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of Honda. "This will be, hands down, the fastest, best-handling Si we’ve ever offered to our customers."
The Civic Si Prototype interior closely previews the production model and features Si-exclusive front sport seats with red stitching, including stitched Si logos. The red sport stitching carries through to the doors, steering wheel and leather shift boot with aluminum shift knob. The Si Prototype interior also features a red driver’s TFT meter and audio system illumination, aluminum sport pedals and Dry Metal Carbon instrument panel trim.
The Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan will launch next year as the latest additions to the 10th-generation Honda Civic lineup, joining the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and just-launched Civic Hatchback. The rollout of the 10th-gen Civic lineup will be completed with the launch of the new track-ready Civic Type-R next year.
The 2016 Civic Sedan was named North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in January. Civic is the best-selling car with individual American car buyers in 2016 and is on track to post the highest U.S. sales in its 44-year history, with sales up 11.7 percent to 310,142 units through the end of October. The previous U.S. sales record for Civic of 339,289 units was set in 2008.
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