2005 Honda Civic Review

Specifications

Civic Si Concept 200-HP points at future direction for new 2006 Civic Si Coupe

Word has it the Civic Si Concept, which debuted at the Chicago Auto Show last month, is 90 percent true to an upcoming production model, which bodes well for the sportiest compact Honda as well as the rest of the Civic lineup.

Easily the most attractive Civic, and best looking Honda to come down the pike in years, the Civic Si Concept, when transformed into production trim, will comfortably blast its closest competition in sales volume, and past most of them in performance.

Its been a while since Honda has offered a compact model to rival the best in the segment, with the British-built Si hatchback coming up short in power and leaving most that see it wishing for more dramatic styling.

The current Civic coupe, while more attractive than the Si hatchback, is little more than a rather anemic economy car, with nothing more than 127-horsepower in SE trim.

That means the Civic is currently being kicked around by almost every competitor in the compact class. Think about it. Is there any other car that only offers 115-horsepower in base trim and 127 in its most powerful form? Chevys new Cobalt starts out with 145-horsepower, Fords Focus at 136, Dodges Neon with 132, and Toyota Corolla at 130, while even the Koreans, Hyundais Elantra and Kias Spectra, start at 138-horsepower apiece. The Civics most dangerous competitor, Mazdas hot new 3, receives 148-horsepower in base trim.

But the Civic Si Concept, that will show up as the Civic Si Coupe when it debuts as a 2006 production model, has been designed to compete in a different market segment, one filled with hot-hatches, powerful 4-doors, stylish 5-doors and custom coupes.

The outgoing Si hatch, powered by a 160-horsepower 2.0-liter four, has struggled against models such as the 160-horsepower Mazda3 s and 5-Door s, 162-horsepower Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliarts, 165-horsepower Subaru Imprezas, 170-horsepower MINI Cooper Ss, 170-horsepower Ford Focus SVTs, 170-horsepower Toyota Corolla XRSs, 175-horsepower Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, 180 and 200-horsepower Volkswagen GTIs, 205-horsepower Saturn ION Quad Coupe Red Lines, and 230-horsepower Dodge SRT-4s, etc, etc, but a production version of the Civic Si Coupe would fare much better.

What does it have that the current Si doesnt? Other than the obvious styling improvements, the new concept features a much more competitive powertrain. Hondas next generation of “intelligent” i-VTEC engine technology results in 200-horsepower, easily enough to mix it up with rival sport models. The engine gets 16-valves and dual-overhead cams, of course, plus an 8,000 rpm red line, true to its Honda heritage.

Its mated to a close ratio 6-speed manual transmission, offering one more cog than the majority of its competitors. Power goes to the front wheels via a helical-type limited slip differential, enhancing traction off the line as well as performance through the corners.

Rubber is the deciding factor when it comes to road-holding, and the Civic Si Concept doesnt disappoint. It features 18-inch cast aluminum rims wrapped in 225/40R18 high performance tires.

Stopping power comes from four-wheel disc brakes incorporating large cross-drilled rotors and four-piston Brembo calipers.

“The 2006 Civic Si Coupe will be the most powerful, fastest and fun-to-drive Si weve ever put on the street, and the Civic Si Concept sets the direction in terms of its styling, package and performance,” said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda. “Its part of a new family of Civic vehicles that build on the already class-leading values of the Civic in terms of safety, styling, performance and fuel efficiency.”

The one-off coupe features unique aerodynamic aids such as a full front and side aero kit, a rear decklid wing, plus a lower rear bumper diffuser with an integrated center exhaust system.

When it debuts in production trim, the 2006 Civic Si Coupe will be generation six of the venerable Si designation, a name that first appeared on Hondas three-door hatch in 1986. Additional Civic Si models followed, one in 1989, another in 1992, one more in 99 and the last in 2002.

So when will the production Si Coupe show up in the metal? Expect to see it in Las Vegas during the 2005 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in November.

When the 2006 Civic Si Coupe becomes available, it will mark twenty years of Civic Si production in North America.