Honda reveals 2017 Civic Si price, specifications and availability

2017 Honda Civic Si comes to market after a model year hiatus, manufactured on the exceptionally refined and well handling 10th generation Civic compact world car platform-- as is the soon to arrive front-wheel drive monster hatch Civic Type-R. The two offerings, while miles apart as to total horsepower and torque output, do have several design and performance attributes in common, the first being turbocharging.

First turbocharged Honda Civic Si

By turbocharging Civic Si, Honda engineering achieves much improved mid-range-rpm high-torque and horsepower engine output. This is where old-school Civic Si drivers will discover an exciting uptick in not only off the line acceleration, but seamless grade climbing and passing power.

Today Honda released a YouTube video demonstrating the handling characteristic of Civic Si on a road course. While not as in your face as Civic Type-R, as to ear splitting track racing exploits, Civic Si brings an affordable sport-commuter alternative to an under $30,000 performance coupe and sedan segment that could use a bit of reliable Honda performance -- this is Honda’s answer to affordable club-car performance.

Honda engineering greatly improves Civic Si ride

What I find to be very cool, is that Honda captures the spirit of Civic Si past, while injecting creature comfort connectivity and refinement into what was once a very utilitarian, bone jarring go cart. This is the grown-up Civic Si -- built with sporting drive performance in mind, while achieving 5-Star safety standards, a quieter, more comfortable, compact car interior that will effortlessly double as a family hauler. Need a sport-hatchback, check this out.

And then there’s the much refined, hydraulically dampened, 4-wheel independent suspension, and oversized braking. This Civic Si is a much easier sell to your significant other.

Getting down to it, 2017 Honda Civic Si specs and MSRP please

In true pre-rollout fashion, Honda gives us a tease as to market time of arrival and MSRP. But they do tell us that 2017 Civic Si will come to market “ in the mid $20,000 range.” In car speak that’s $25,990, or so, cheaper than I thought. As to horsepower and torque (205 horsepower @ 5700 rpm (SAE net) 2 192 lb-ft of torque @ 2100-5000 rpm (SAE net) That’s very cool! As stated earlier, it’s where the torque and horsepower comes on that makes 2017 Civic Si an exceptional performer.

“Powering the Civic Si is a high-performance, high-torque 1.5-liter, directed-injected and turbocharged DOHC in-line 4-cylinder engine with dual variable cam timing (dual VTC). Mated to a short-throw, 6-speed manual transmission, the powertrain provides a thrilling new driving experience with more low-end grunt and increased torque output across the engine's full rev range compared to the previous Si. Peak horsepower of 205 horsepower1 arrives 1300 rpm lower in the rev range, and the increased peak torque of 192 lb-ft2 (+18 lb-ft) is produced 2300 rpm earlier and sustained over 70 percent of the rev range,” says American Honda Motor Company. How sweet is that?