Civic Four-Door Gets The Go-Fast TreatmentAt the launch of the 2006 Honda Civic Si Sedan Concept, John
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| Despite its humble roots, the Civic Si Sedan Concept couldn't resist bathing in the glitz and glam of a motorshow debut. (Photo: Honda Canada) |
Mendel, American Honda's senior vice president said, "The 2007 model year will mark the first time in the Civic Si's 20 years that it will be available with four doors." I guess he wasn't referring to the Canadian market, which featured a four-door Si in its previous generation. In all honesty, however, it really shouldn't have been called an Si considering it was powered by a 127-horsepower engine also featured in the 1.7 EL, rather than the 160-hp screamer found in the 3-door Civic SiR hatchback (Si in the states). Ah, to embrace the differences between America and Canada.
Honda
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| Tuner's delight: black hood, dark windows and aftermarket wheels give Civic Sedan a clean cut look. (Photo: Honda Canada) |
chose the Windy City to unveil the Si Sedan Concept, which by no coincidence was the location it used to present the Si Coupe Concept last year, the vehicle that foreshadowed the 8th generation Civic lineup. It also comes as no surprise that Honda would create a four-door Si, expanding its scope beyond the previous two-door coupe and three-door hatchback body styles; since its launch late last year, the Civic has cleaned up countless prestigious awards - it's both North American and Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 2006, and stands a good chance of winning the Automobile Journalist Association of Canada's COTY award at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto next week. Besides, Honda advanced the hybrid game with the latest Civic Hybrid, taking care of its moral responsibility toward a greener planet, so why not add a little dose of fun for the sedan?
The Si Sedan Concept is dressed identically to the Si Coupe Concept,
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| Brembo brakes ensure that stopping is prompt. (Photo: Honda Canada) |
and without a doubt will be a hit with the tuners. It features a sporty aftermarket-style body kit, blacked-out tint on the windows, a flashy rear spoiler, Brembo brakes with red calipers and cross-drilled rotors, plus contrasting black-painted hood and 18-inch aftermarket wheels, which ride on a suspension system that's been slammed so low that the gap between tires and fenders is nearly nonexistent. The only real difference between the Coupe and Sedan concept in terms of design execution is that the Sedan features an offset 'production' exhaust, while the Coupe had a pre-production rear valance with integrated diffuser and central-mounted pipes.
Under
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| Styling won't quite make it to production, but the engine, gearbox and LSD will. (Photo: Honda Canada) |
the hood of the concept is the running gear featured on the Si Coupe Concept as well as the production Si Coupe. That means Honda's VTEC-enhanced 2.0-litre inline-four that makes 197-horsepower driven through a six-speed manual gearbox assisted by an optional limited-slip differential for improved traction is standard equipment. The Si Sedan Concept is a good representation of what to expect from a mechanical standpoint. It will be toned down visually, and therefore won't feature the black contrast paint or upgraded brakes, but the drivetrain will pass through unchanged. Also, expect to find a more mild aerodynamic treatment plus similar 17-inch alloy wheels and performance tires as featured on the production Si Coupe.
