|
|
The humble Honda Civic began its long life here in '74 as an imported,
economical transporter for the masses. It quickly earned popularity in the U.S.
with uncompromising reliability, money-saving fuel economy, and meager price,
and has now become America's best-selling compact car. In '85, the sleepy
commuter got a dose of caffeine with a peppy Si model, and the response from
young buyers looking for an inexpensive and spirited driving experience was
immediate. But by '95, more powerful compacts from other manufacturers made the
buzzy little Civic Si less attractive, and it was dropped from the Civic line.
In '99, the time is again ripe for an Si model, and
Honda has answered the cracking voices of young drivers across the country with
a new, improved Civic Si coupe. This time, however, the Si is cleaner running
while achieving the once magical engine output milestone of just over 100
horsepower per liter of displacement, or if you prefer, just over 1 horsepower
per cubic inch. Yet, this remarkable Si engine is able to extract an estimated
26 mpg in the city and a far-reaching 31 mpg on the highway. How'd they do that? Honda pioneered variable valve timing with its VTEC engines, and this Civic 1.6-liter engine is endowed with the same split personality we've come to expect. Other high-output hardware includes a larger throttle body, tuned intake manifold, high-lift cam profiles, strengthened connecting rods, low-friction/high-silicon pistons, fully counterweighted crankshaft, 10.2:1 compression ratio, and tuned exhaust system with larger diameter plumbing throughout. Piloted by a "normal" driver, the Si's engine behaves much the same as that of any other Civic. But when you push the revs beyond the 6000-rpm range, the commuter car transforms into a tenacious little street fighter. More like a motorcycle than a car engine, revving to an 8200-rpm redline, the Civic Si is one of those cars with which we love to surprise other drivers. There are few things Motor Trend enjoys more than a performance "sleeper," and the Civic Si certainly is one.
Click for full size image |
