Triple Threat

The Si gives the Civic an all-out sporty complement. The basic Civic coupe is no longer just a two-door version of the sedan; its rakish body panels and wheelbase are its own, designed at Honda’s Marysville, Ohio, plant. The Si’s 2.0–liter, high-output four cylinder is from the sizzling Acura RSX with dual-overhead camshafts and a six-speed shifter, enhanced with limited-slip differential. Its 8,000–RPM redline limit extracts 197 horsepower in the lightweight coupe. The chassis has been further reinforced by 30 percent in roll stiffness for sporty handling, and special suspension, wheels, and tires have been added. I drove an Si repeatedly up to redline for about twenty laps on the Autobahn road-racing course near Chicago, and it was just about the most fun you can imagine for $21,000.

Honda officials anticipate selling 300,000 Civics this year, which includes 162,000 sedans, 85,000 coupes, 28,000 Hybrids, and 15,000 Si coupes. A taste of all three models has convinced me Honda should easily hit  those sales targets.