At the ongoing Los Angeles Auto Show, Honda pulled the wraps off a two-door Civic called the Si Prototype. And like the previous Si, it’s a coupe version of the established Civic sedan of the period.
Honda has had a recent knack for unveiling what appear to be fully production-ready cars but for some reason or another attaches the ‘Prototype’ moniker and withholds it from being sold in showrooms.
The most recent instance being the Civic Type R Prototype, a hot version of the 5-door Civic Hatch but with the accoutrements of the earlier 3-door Civic Type R including the 2.0-litre turbocharged VTEC engine with 228kW.
This Si Prototype, though, in sedan and coupe form, is meant to bridge the performance gulf between the full-blown Type R and the more sedate Civic Sport in the North American market when it launches some time in 2017.
The coupe body style already alludes to its added dynamism, as does the inclusion of a short-shifting six-speed manual transmission option. The engine that it will be mated to, however, won’t set the world on fire but will offer more power and torque. It’s the same 1.5-litre turbocharge four-cylinder used in most of the other new Civics, but tuned to an as yet undisclosed figure.
To drive home the Civic Si’s position as the more performant non-Type R option, Honda has also fitted a limited slip differential, high-performance tyres wrapped around 19-inch alloys, uprated springs and dampers, and an active steering system that may or may not survive the transition into a full production model as standard kit.
The body itself is readily recognisable as a Civic Coupe, albeit sportier, with a front bumper splitter, fixed rear wing, more gloss black exterior accents, and a hexagonal centre-exit exhaust.
For more on Honda vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
