The high-revving i-VTEC equipped engine is mated to a short throw six-speed manual transmission that is a dream to
shift, and connects through to helical limited-slip differential that is ideal for getting all the power to the tarmac.
That power, as expected, was immediately noticeable on the street, making Honda's PR team both kind and wise to have rented out a private racetrack for journalist use during the model's Chicago introduction.
The track, filled with a wonderful combination of low-speed turns, high-speed corners and long open straights, was exactly the right size for pushing the little Si to its limit, and the added luxury of doing so in safety, without the constant worry of oncoming traffic or police regulation, made the experience all the more fruitful.
Out
of the pits, its near 200-horsepower maximum is adrenaline inducing, especially when factoring in the 2.0-litre engine only needs to motivate 1,307 kg (2,881 pounds) of total mass - my 75 kilos (165 lbs) not included. According to Road & Track magazine 0 to 60 mph flashes by in a respectable 6.8 seconds (which would equal about 6.9 to 7.0 seconds to 100 km/h) while the quarter mile needs 15.1 seconds. The engine revs to a stratospheric 8,000 rpm, not as otherworldly as the old 2.0-litre four in the S2000, which managed a cool 9,500 rpm at full song, but high-revving just the same. And making the Si even more enticing, it should deliver extremely good fuel economy for its class - although at the time of writing not even estimates have been made available. What we do know, however, is that it achieves the same ULEV-2 (Tier 2, Bin 5) emissions rating as its less powerful Civic siblings.
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| The high-revving i-VTEC equipped engine is mated to a short throw six-speed manual transmission that is a dream to shift. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
That power, as expected, was immediately noticeable on the street, making Honda's PR team both kind and wise to have rented out a private racetrack for journalist use during the model's Chicago introduction.
The track, filled with a wonderful combination of low-speed turns, high-speed corners and long open straights, was exactly the right size for pushing the little Si to its limit, and the added luxury of doing so in safety, without the constant worry of oncoming traffic or police regulation, made the experience all the more fruitful.
Out
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| The track, filled with a wonderful combination of low-speed turns, high-speed corners and long open straights, was exactly the right size for pushing the little Si to its limit. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |