 |
| 2012 Honda Civic Si |
Were it another car, we might have had our doubts, but as the flagship performance offering in the Civic lineup – a vehicle that spawned a generation of import car tuning – the Honda Civic Si is the benchmark to which others are measured.
From styling to in-car technology there’s a lot that’s new about the 2012 Honda Civic Si, but there’s arguably only one fact that really matters; what’s under the hood. For 2012 Honda Civic Si has finally made the swap that tuners have been doing for years, opting to upgrade the car’s engine from the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder to a larger-displacement 2.4-liter. True, some in the Civic nation may cringe at the new 7000-rpm peak horsepower output (down from 7800), claiming Honda has lost its soul, but you won’t find any critics of added torque at lower rpm
When asked if he looked to another automaker’s high performance model in building the new 2012 Honda Civic Si , Honda Civic chief engineer Mitsuru Horikoshi was unequivocal.
Few cars are as rewarding to drive as the Honda Civic Si – and there are even fewer for this money. With strong sales and a loyal fanbase Honda has proven that while there might not be room for a whole sport coupe segment, when you build a car this good, there’s room for an Honda Civic Si segment.
The 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe is a compact coupe. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission. The Honda Civic Si comes with bucket front seats, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, cloth upholstery, power windows and locks, a tilt-telescope leather-covered steering wheel with controls for the audio system and cruise control, standard air conditioning, foglights, a trip computer with a 5-inch monitor, front and rear spoilers, and a front limited slip differential. The Si also has anti-lock brakes with brake-assist, traction control, stability control, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints, and front seatbelt pretensors.
The drive is Honda with a bit of sport attitude. When asked if he looked to another automaker’s high performance model in building the new 2012 Honda Civic Si, Honda Civic chief engineer Mitsuru Horikoshi was unequivocal. Were it another car, we might have had our doubts, but as the flagship performance offering in the Civic lineup – a vehicle that spawned a generation of import car tuning – the Si is the benchmark to which others are measured.
