Now that everyone has seen what the Civic Type R looks like, pretty much nothing else in the Honda universe really matters anymore.
To carry the Japanese automaker’s performance flag until the Type R gets here, which is still ways away, the 2017 Honda Civic Si just made its global debut at the 2016 L.A. Auto Show.
Looking pretty tame compared to the hyper-aggressive Type R hatch, the Si strikes a nice balance between the regular Civic and the much-anticipated hot hatch. The Si will be available as a coupe and a sedan, but a short-shifting six-speed manual transmission will be the only one available.
The 2017 Honda Civic Si will be powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which the automaker says is “high-performance” and “high-torque.” Unfortunately, Honda didn’t release any information about power output, the one thing that prospective Si drivers care most about. The last Civic Si had 205 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, so it’s safe to assume that this upcoming model’s figures will surpass the previous generation’s numbers.
This Si Prototype has a full Honda Factory Performance (HFP) aero kit, spoiler, a slick center-mounted exhaust setup, and 19-inch, 10-spoke forged aluminum alloy wheels. Performance upgrades include a new active damper system, active steering, limited-slip differential and available high-performance tires.
Inside, the Si gets unique front sport seats with red contrast stitching that carries through the whole cabin, an aluminum shift knob and sport pedals, and a handful of other features that help differentiate the Si from the regular Civic.
Although Honda says this is just a prototype, it’s pretty safe to assume that the production model won’t stray too far from what we see here. The 2017 Honda Civic Si launches next year.
The 2016 L.A. Auto Show marks the first time all five variants (Hatchback, Coupe, Sedan, Type R and Si) of the 10th-generation Honda Civic are sharing a stage.
