2005 Honda Civic Si Concept

Civic Si Concept Points at Direction for 2006 Production Model

Word has it the Civic Si Concept, which debuted at the Chicago Auto Show last month, is 90 percent true to an upcoming

Apparently the Civic Si Concept, which debuted at the Chicago Auto Show last month, is 90 percent true to an upcoming production model. (Photo: Honda Canada)

production model, which bodes well for the sportiest compact Honda as well as the rest of the Civic lineup.

Easily the most attractive Civic, and best looking Honda to come down the pike in years, the Civic Si Concept, when transformed into production trim, will comfortably blast its closest competition in sales volume, and past most of them in performance.

It's been a while since Honda has offered a compact model to rival the best in the segment, with the British-built SiR coming up short in power and leaving most that see it wishing for more dramatic styling.

The current Civic coupe, while more attractive than the SiR hatchback, is little more than a rather anemic economy car, with

It's been a while since Honda has offered a compact model to rival the best in the segment. (Photo: Honda Canada)

nothing more than 127-horsepower in top-of-the-line Si-G trim.

That means the Civic is currently being kicked around by almost every competitor in the compact class. Think about it. Is there any other car that only offers 115-horsepower in base trim and 127 in its most powerful form? Chevy's new Cobalt starts out with 145-horsepower, Ford's Focus at 136, Dodge's SX 2.0 132, and Toyota's Corolla at 130, while even the Koreans, Hyundai's Elantra and Kia's Spectra, start at 138-horsepower apiece. The Civic's most dangerous competitor, Mazda's hot new 3, receives 148-horsepower in base trim.