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Is Honda Preparing to Bring Back the Civic-Based CRX?

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New Civic Sedan and Coupe Models are Longer, Wider and More Powerful

Honda doesnt make many mistakes, but when it killed its two-seat CRX after model year 1991 for the unloved 1993 del Sol, a host of loyal sports coupe fans had few alternative choices. Some bought into the heavier, less agile del Sol due to its removable roof panel, but theres little doubt Honda lost others to alternative Japanese brands such as Mazda, which had just started selling its 130-horsepower V6-equipped MX-3 Precedia. Still, the majority of CRX-patriots purchased Civic hatchback models and fixed them up to satisfy their need for something sporty.

In another rare Honda blunder, the Civic hatchback was dropped after the 2000 model year and not replaced until a dolled-up, British-made Civic SiR hatch debuted in the 2002 model year. But this car didnt pull in much of the tuner crowd either, due to a jellybean appearance and an extremely high price tag, at least when compared to the previous Civic hatchback. Therefore, sales were so slow that model year 2004 was its last.

So what kind of future Civic is in store for enthusiasts? So far, Honda has shown its Si concept that will replace the current top-line coupe. Spy photos of this model, along with shots of the new sedan have shown up on most automotive blogger sites, so theres no question as to its validity, but Honda might have something even more intriguing for the following year.

Yes, word has it that a new CRX is on the way for the 2007 model year, taking advantage of the upgraded Civic design. A return to a two-seat sports car would be welcomed by enthusiasts, as long as it was inexpensive.

This new model wouldnt feature anything near as sophisticated as a double wishbone suspension up front if built, but rather incorporate simple MacPherson struts just like its sedan and coupe siblings, while the rear setup may receive a tautly tuned multilink design, although nothing has yet to be announced.

Its hardly news that top-tier Civics, such as the Si and future CRX will get the new 200-hp K20 four-cylinder engine, which may actually end up being rated at 197-hp due to new SAE regulations, but still it will be the most powerful factory-built Civic ever, so we can expect some seriously tweaked versions of the coupe, at least, to show up at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas this November.

Recent reports about the new Si engine have shown it will feature 16-valves and dual overhead camshafts, plus an upgraded i-VTEC variable valve timing system, which is actually variable lift electronic control with intelligence. Expect redline to hover around 8,000 rpm, which is not quite S2000 territory but still stratospheric compared to most competitors.

And what will Honda use to send its power down to the road? A new six-speed manual will make the most of the new Si engine, optimized by a helical limited-slip differential that will ensure more usable power gets to the tarmac.

But the Si and expected CRX wont be the only Civic models to experience a performance upgrade. All Civics will receive a boost in power, thanks to a new 1.8-liter four-cylinder that will also deliver a six-percent fuel consumption reduction. According to the Japanese automaker, the new 1.8 delivers the acceleration of a 2.0-liter powerplant while sipping away at petrol like a 1.5-liter mill, due in part to an enhanced i-VTEC system, variable-intake runners and drive-by-wire throttle control. Peak horsepower is said to be 140, while maximum torque is 128 lb-ft, although a higher output version featuring somewhere in the neighbourhood of 155- to 160-horsepower could be on the way.

Theres no denying that Honda has been successful with its Civic sedan and coupe models since dropping the entry-level hatchback, with the car being at the top of compact passenger car sales charts for years, but sales among enthusiasts deteriorated since the loss of the CRX and especially the low-priced hatchback model - the latter of which was previously the automakers most popular model with tuners due to its sporty styling, overall light curb weight, and most important, low price point - and with that the Civic name has lost a little luster within the tuning crowd.

While new model will do much to restore the shine, Honda hasnt given any clues as to a return to an entry-level hatchback. While there are at least rumblings about the upcoming CRX, a model made popular in its day for the same reasons as its hatchback sibling, it still remains to be seen if Honda brings the classic name back as a top-of-the-range model in the Civic lineup or as an inexpensive two-seat sports car, with a full range of engine choices similar to the old version. The new base sedan would be a good framework for a budget CRX, and the new lineup of engines would make even the least powerful much more engaging than the previous generation CRX Si.

Like the new lineup of Civic sedans and coupes, base CRX models could feature 15-inch wheels standard, with 16s on a mid-grade model, possibly an EX, and 17s on the top-line Si.

The new sedan and coupe models are slightly longer and wider than any previous Civic, so therefore a new CRX would probably grow in length and width as well. The new car would also be heavier thanks to more safety related gear, but this and its increased size probably wouldnt hamper performance much, however, due to the aforementioned power upgrades. A future CRX would probably make use of the unique two-tiered Civic dash too, which includes a sporty instrument binnacle that juts out from behind the performance-oriented steering wheel.

Lastly, there would be no reason to resurrect the CRX nameplate without making it a two-seat hatchback, and currently the only two-seat Honda coupe is the oddly styled Citroen-esque Insight hybrid model. But hold on, could the return to a CRX also include a hybrid drivetrain, and with that, the end of the line for the slow-selling Insight? This is, of course, is pure speculation, as there will be a strong contingent among Hondas board of directors lobbying for an end to the Insight and possibly all non-roadster two-seaters. The argument is that these are impractical cars to begin with, the reason many will say that the Insight hasnt sold very well. While this is no doubt partially true, the Insights slow sales might have more to do with its unorthodox styling than any lack of storage space or people-hauling capacity. A better looking two-seater would no doubt fair much better, hybrid or not.

If a CRX is in the cards, then dont expect it for another two years. The return to its sporting roots would be a good thing for Honda, and my guess is that if Japans number three automaker brings it to market cheap enough for upstart tuners, which means offering it in a stripped-down entry-level format, it will be a big success and go far to enhance the Civic lineups image.

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