There certainly hasn't been a shortage of hot Civic news lately, what with the impending launch of the five-door Type R. But don't forget, Honda will also offer an Si version of its tenth-generation Civic, previewed here in prototype form, and making its debut today in Los Angeles.
Click here to view more live images (20 photos)
Don't expect the production Civic Si to look too different than the hot little coupe you see here. We fully expect this car to go on sale pretty much as-is, with its meaner front fascia (that looks like it came right off the Sport Hatchback), 19-inch wheels, aero kit, center exhaust, and mandatory rear wing. Same goes for the interior – it all looks ready to go, and those Si-specific sport front seats look super comfy and supportive. Here's hoping those make it to production (they should), but we'll happily do without the HFP accessory floor mats (so red!).
If the coupe body style isn't your thing, Honda will offer the Si in sedan form, too. No hatchback, though – that's Type R territory.
We're still waiting for official performance figures; Honda is only confirming the new Si uses the 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four, has a six-speed manual transmission, and will be the "fastest, most powerful Si yet." Our best guess is power output will be somewhere around 225 horsepower, keeping it competitive with the Volkswagen GTI. We're expecting good things – Honda says the Si will have new active damper and steering systems, a limited-slip differential, and optional high-performance tires.
“This will be, hands down, the fastest, best-handling Si we've ever offered to our customers,” says Jeff Conrad, Honda’s senior vice president and general manager.
We'll have more details closer to the car's on-sale date sometime next year. Scroll down for the official press blast, and check out the Si from all angles in the gallery below.
Source: Honda
Live Photos: Steven Ewing, Nathan Leech-Proffer / Motor1.com
Gallery: 2017 Honda Civic Si Prototype
Unveiling of Sporty Honda Civic Si Prototype Completes 10th Generation Civic Line-up
- 2017 Civic Si will be fastest, most powerful Si yet
- Si Coupe and Si Sedan joining 10th-generation Civic lineup in 2017
- Active steering, active suspension, limited-slip differential and high-performance tires among Si performance upgrades
- All models to feature short-shifting 6-speed manual
Nov. 15, 2016 - LOS ANGELES, Calif. – 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 dual center-mounted polygonal exhaust finishers and 19-inch 235/35X high-performance tires mounted on HFP 19 x XJ 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.