2017 Honda Civic Si Holds the Fort Down Till the Type R Arrives: Comments

[William Maley]

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We've seen the coolest and hottest variants of the Civic lineup, but is there something in the middle? Honda has introduced that model in the form of 2017 Civic Si Prototype.

We're expecting the production to mostly look the same as the vehicle seen here - a mean looking front fascia from the Civic hatchback and center mounted exhaust. This prototype comes with a Honda Factory Performance (HFP) aero package and 19-inch wheels, items we expect you'll be able to option. Like the previous-generation, the Si will be available in coupe and sedan. Sorry, the hatchback is reserved for the Type R. The interior looks the part with a set of sport seats, an aluminum shift knob and sport pedals and other touches to set it apart from other Civics.

Power will come from a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder paired with a six-speed manual. Honda isn't saying anything about performance figures, only saying it's the "fastest, most powerful Si yet." Our hunch is we're looking at 220 or above. Other performance items the Si will feature include an active damper system, active steering, limited-slip differential, and the option of high-performance tires.

 

Source: Honda
Press Release is on Page 2

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Unveiling of Sporty Honda Civic Si Prototype Completes 10th Generation Civic Line-up
Nov 15, 2016

• 2017 Civic Si will be fastest, most powerful Si yet
• Si Coupe and Si Sedan joining 10th-generation Civic lineup in 2017
• Active steering, active suspension, limited-slip differential and high-performance tires among Si performance upgrades
• All models to feature short-shifting 6-speed manual

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Honda Civic Si Prototype made its global debut today, giving Honda enthusiasts a good look at the design and performance direction for the 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan, both launching next year. The Civic Si Prototype will be on display at the 2016 Los Angeles International Auto Show where it will be joined by its Civic Sedan, Coupe and Hatchback siblings, plus the radical Civic Type-R Prototype, providing the first public opportunity to see all five Civic variants. This will also be the first time the Type-R interior will be shown.

The shimmering Rallye Red Pearl Civic Si Prototype features a full Factory Performance (HFP) aero kit, including front and rear splitters and rear spoiler, plus a center-mounted polygonal exhaust finisher and 19-inch 235/35Y high-performance tires mounted on HFP 19 x 8J 10-spoke forged aluminum alloy wheels.

The 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan will be powered by 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-shifting 6-speed manual transmission. Additional performance upgrades for the Si variants will include a new active damper system, active steering system, limited-slip differential and available high-performance tires.

"With the new Honda Civic Si, we're injecting even more sporty goodness into our 10th-generation Civic lineup," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of Honda.  "This will be, hands down, the fastest, best-handling Si we've ever offered to our customers."

The Civic Si Prototype interior closely previews the production model and features Si-exclusive front sport seats with red stitching, including stitched Si logos.  The red sport stitching carries through to the doors, steering wheel and leather shift boot with aluminum shift knob. The Si Prototype interior also features a red driver's TFT meter and audio system illumination, aluminum sport pedals and Dry Metal Carbon instrument panel trim.

The Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan will launch next year as the latest additions to the 10th-generation Honda Civic lineup, joining the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and just-launched Civic Hatchback. The rollout of the 10th-gen Civic lineup will be completed with the launch of the new track-ready Civic Type-R next year. 

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[Guest Wings4Life(BANNED)]

1.5L turbo is perfect for a car like this.  I really like the new Civic. Best car in it's class for sure.

[A Horse With No Name]

Thinking this might be a damned fine replacement for my Jetta when I sell it back.

[ocnblu]

I am surprised and pleased by how conservative it is.  Bumpers are no more outlandish than other Civics... no giant wing or ridiculous ground effects kit.  Got blue?

[A Horse With No Name]

10 hours ago, ocnblu said:

I am surprised and pleased by how conservative it is.  Bumpers are no more outlandish than other Civics... no giant wing or ridiculous ground effects kit.  Got blue?

Honda, Like Subaru, has an Amazing blue for their sport compact.  I like the way you think!

[Stew]

I think this may be the one version of the new Civic i really like and would consider owning. 

[A Horse With No Name]

1 minute ago, Stew said:

I think this may be the one version of the new Civic i really like and would consider owning. 

Agreed, but better get your order of deposit in quickly-Talked to my local Honda dealer Sunday, apparently they are limiting production to 7200 coupes and 7200 sedans.

This kind of dovetails with what I was saying earlier about Honda having rational plans to limit production of certain models to keep from flooding the market and keep secondary market values up. this also helps their lease rates tremendously I think because they do not have to work with screwy residual values.

One wonders what would have happened had Chrysler limited production of the PT Cruiser and kept up with a program of continuous improvement through its life cycle rather than whoring it out for the cheapest possible prices and leases to keep the assembly lines running.

Rather than having a forgettable vehicle that is now out of production, they might have a lot of brand equity in a line they can still sell at a high profit.

Since I tend to keep cars for 200,000 miles plus, or at least well past 100K...I really like high residual values.

[Stew]

I won't be getting one anytime soon, but a used one is a very big possibility to replace the Bug as the daily driver driver in a few years. 

[Drew Dowdell]

Added some of my own shots to the article.

If you follow us on CheersandGears Instagram, Facebook, or SnapChat, you can see some video of the car too. 

[A Horse With No Name]

30 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Added some of my own shots to the article.

If you follow us on CheersandGears Instagram, Facebook, or SnapChat, you can see some video of the car too. 

Thanks...I am enjoying all of the automotive content here!  Keep it up....

[daves87rs]

On 11/15/2016 at 7:57 PM, A Horse With No Name said:

Thinking this might be a damned fine replacement for my Jetta when I sell it back.

Thinking it might be a good choice too!

[A Horse With No Name]

23 hours ago, Stew said:

I won't be getting one anytime soon, but a used one is a very big possibility to replace the Bug as the daily driver driver in a few years. 

You are like me and enjoy thinking about the next car. I do a lot more thinking than buying though as I tend to keep cars 200,000 plus miles.

The only thing that would touch this reliability wise in terms of a sporty compact would be the WRX.

[A Horse With No Name]

7 hours ago, daves87rs said:

Thinking it might be a good choice too!

It would have a lot of the attributes of the Older generation Cavalier you liked so much in terms of nimbleness and responsive driving characteristics. We both owned earlier Cavi's and liked them, this is one of the few modern cars that retains that fun to drive characteristic.

It would have the advantage of a really slick suspension set up, an amazing glass smooth manual that is rivaled only by the Miata and the S2000, comfortable and supportive seats, a truly decent audio system for its price point, and a decent selection of actual colors.

The biggest thing though is your son.  My sons friends loved my Miata, and you would probably be the one dad with the really cool car.  Being able to have that as a bonding point with your son as he is preparing to go into the world and make his own way would have a lot of value also.

Not to mention the SI would be more fuel efficient than a crossover or many other sedans.

Resale also....diesel gate has really hurt the Gasser VW's, including the GTI. The Focus ST and Fiesta ST are great cars, but they are depreciation magnets, possibly because Ford has frustrated so many people with the non sporty versions of these cars with the horrible automatics.

 

[Stew]

38 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

You are like me and enjoy thinking about the next car. I do a lot more thinking than buying though as I tend to keep cars 200,000 plus miles.

The only thing that would touch this reliability wise in terms of a sporty compact would be the WRX.

True, the Bug and Camry will be with us for a while, but i love thinking about the next vehicle especially considering what will serve best from the used market s I don't like buying new.   The bug has kind of opened my up to this class of vehicle as I enjoy the torque,, maneuverability, and the squirt and shoot ability that provides in concert with the small size. 

[A Horse With No Name]

2 minutes ago, Stew said:

True, the Bug and Camry will be with us for a while, but i love thinking about the next vehicle especially considering what will serve best from the used market s I don't like buying new.   The bug has kind of opened my up to this class of vehicle as I enjoy the torque,, maneuverability, and the squirt and shoot ability that provides in concert with the small size. 

Ohh I love small cars, especially living in an urban area.

If you like used you will love how well the SI holds resale value and how reliable it is.

[G. David Felt]

Further dragging out the slow death of the company with bland dull products.

[A Horse With No Name]

5 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Further dragging out the slow death of the company with bland dull products.

Not sure I agree with this assessment.

[G. David Felt]

Everything that Honda and Acura has built to date is boring and non-inspiring to me. Also getting my 6'6" tall frame into Honda products is a joke since they continue to make their products for 5' 8" or shorter people it would seem.

[A Horse With No Name]

Different strokes for different folks!

[ykX]

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

Everything that Honda and Acura has built to date is boring and non-inspiring to me. Also getting my 6'6" tall frame into Honda products is a joke since they continue to make their products for 5' 8" or shorter people it would seem.

The height of everything Honda built is about the same on average as anything else compatible in the segment.  I have a coworker  who is 6'3" who has plenty of headroom in his new Accord.  I would think that with 6'6" frame you would have problem with most cars period.

[Cory Wolfe]

I'm slightly underwhelmed. It's restrained, sure, but I was hoping there would be more of a gap between regular trims, the Si and the Type-R. This seems to be more Civic Sport hatchback plus, but applied to the coupe. I would have wished for a more stepped approach. It does, however, fall in line with Honda's tradition of Si trims, none of which have been differentiated much from lower trims. 

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

Further dragging out the slow death of the company with bland dull products.

Eh, considering the competition, the Civic is far from bland or dull. Cruze, Focus, Elantra, Forte, Corolla, Impreza, Sentra, Jetta, and Golf are all much more mainstream and looking. The only car with more emotion in the design is the Mazda3. 

And I'm pretty sure they're making bank. Just saying...

[daves87rs]

14 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

It would have a lot of the attributes of the Older generation Cavalier you liked so much in terms of nimbleness and responsive driving characteristics. We both owned earlier Cavi's and liked them, this is one of the few modern cars that retains that fun to drive characteristic.

It would have the advantage of a really slick suspension set up, an amazing glass smooth manual that is rivaled only by the Miata and the S2000, comfortable and supportive seats, a truly decent audio system for its price point, and a decent selection of actual colors.

The biggest thing though is your son.  My sons friends loved my Miata, and you would probably be the one dad with the really cool car.  Being able to have that as a bonding point with your son as he is preparing to go into the world and make his own way would have a lot of value also.

Not to mention the SI would be more fuel efficient than a crossover or many other sedans.

Resale also....diesel gate has really hurt the Gasser VW's, including the GTI. The Focus ST and Fiesta ST are great cars, but they are depreciation magnets, possibly because Ford has frustrated so many people with the non sporty versions of these cars with the horrible automatics.

 

Yeah..plenty of truth there....you know my son is getting into cars now...likes to stick nose into it too when I work on mine....might just be a future car guy...

 

Kinda scary how well you know me...lol.....I do like them simple! I have been meaning to drive a new civic....as I have heard the new ones handle quite well. Also one of the reasons I loved the Focus, but sadly the trans just doesn't hold up on either side.....Sad-because I love when they handle well! (One of the few reasons I loved my wife's old 95 Neon-you didin't have to stop while making 40 mph turns!)

 

Now I'll have to test drive one.....

[A Horse With No Name]

4 minutes ago, daves87rs said:

Yeah..plenty of truth there....you know my son is getting into cars now...likes to stick nose into it too when I work on mine....might just be a future car guy...

 

Kinda scary how well you know me...lol.....I do like them simple! I have been meaning to drive a new civic....as I have heard the new ones handle quite well. Also one of the reasons I loved the Focus, but sadly the trans just doesn't hold up on either side.....Sad-because I love when they handle well! (One of the few reasons I loved my wife's old 95 Neon-you didin't have to stop while making 40 mph turns!)

 

Now I'll have to test drive one.....

I don't want to bash on the Focus as I came close to buying the ST version twice, but methinks this is a much better car.

The big advantages here are the Civic is available as a two door and also Civic SI resale value just kills it over Focus ST resale.

Worth a look!

[daves87rs]

Just now, A Horse With No Name said:

I don't want to bash on the Focus as I came close to buying the ST version twice, but methinks this is a much better car.

The big advantages here are the Civic is available as a two door and also Civic SI resale value just kills it over Focus ST resale.

Worth a look!

 

Kinda wish they would send the wagon over here......I would buy it in a heartbeat!! Love the look of that version! Must be the wagon guy in me.....

[A Horse With No Name]

16 minutes ago, daves87rs said:

 

Kinda wish they would send the wagon over here......I would buy it in a heartbeat!! Love the look of that version! Must be the wagon guy in me.....

 

16 minutes ago, daves87rs said:

 

Kinda wish they would send the wagon over here......I would buy it in a heartbeat!! Love the look of that version! Must be the wagon guy in me.....

We miss out on a ton of good wagons...make mine a Mazda 6 wagon...

[daves87rs]

9 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

 

We miss out on a ton of good wagons...make mine a Mazda 6 wagon...

Yep!!!

[oldshurst442]

My world's magnetic poles have been reversed.

Back in the day, some of my friends were ricer guys and these guys loooooved a Honda Civic while I hated them and the car for it...

I still talk to some of these guys from time to time and in 2016, they hate today's model while I LOOOOOVE it!!!

They grew up and I did not?

I wouldnt buy one, but I like it.

Honda always marched to a beat of a different drum and it seems they have re-discovered that tune.

Its refreshing.

Now, if only Acura could do the same.

Edited November 18, 2016 by oldshurst442

[A Horse With No Name]

2 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

My world's magnetic poles have been reversed.

Back in the day, some of my friends were ricer guys and these guys loooooved a Honda Civic while I hated them and the car for it...

I still talk to some of these guys from time to time and in 2016, they hate today's model while I LOOOOOVE it!!!

They grew up and I did not?

I wouldnt buy one, but I like it.

Honda always marched to a beat of a different drum and it seems they have re-discovered that tune.

Its refreshing.

Now, if only Acura could do the same.

I think Acura is slipping from the minds of Honda management just as Lincoln is bringing us a refreshed MKZ, a refreshed/new 'Gator, the Conti....Cadillac is moving Forward....Lexus is moving forward and is #2 behind Benz in sales in the US...

BMW is holding onto and building their market share and Audi is weathering eleventy billion diesel gate scandals well.

Acura is getting a little bit lost in the shuffle. The ILX is not selling well enough to justify its existence as another model....the SUV lineup is as bland as watching a whale take a S#!t in the middle of the ocean....

Actually I take that back, from a marine biology standpoint watching a whale relieve himself might be more interesting than an RDX....

Kind of sad, actually. 

[oldshurst442]

2 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I think Acura is slipping from the minds of Honda management just as Lincoln is bringing us a refreshed MKZ, a refreshed/new 'Gator, the Conti....Cadillac is moving Forward....Lexus is moving forward and is #2 behind Benz in sales in the US...

BMW is holding onto and building their market share and Audi is weathering eleventy billion diesel gate scandals well.

Acura is getting a little bit lost in the shuffle. The ILX is not selling well enough to justify its existence as another model....the SUV lineup is as bland as watching a whale take a S#!t in the middle of the ocean....

Actually I take that back, from a marine biology standpoint watching a whale relieve himself might be more interesting than an RDX....

Kind of sad, actually. 

I agree.

There was a purpose for Acura in the 1990s.

It destroyed single handedly (let us not talk about GM's blunders and just praise Acura's raison d'etre in the 1990s) Oldsmobile and Pontiac and even Mercury carving out its own identity and put its own stamp of what a sport luxury doctor's car should be.

Oldsmobile was known for its technology in the past and Acura just ripped into Oldsmobile's reputation big time...

Today though, Acura seems more lost and Honda spinning its wheels with Acura worse than Oldsmobile and GM were in the 1990s.

At least Oldsmobile had some great trends going on to try to compete with Acura in the 1990s but the Acura juggernaut was too big for Oldsmobile to handle...GM had SAAB and FIAT and SATURN on their plate to really give Oldsmobile a boost with Aurora, Northstar and Shortstar but at least Oldsmobile was on the right track with the Aurora 1st gen, Intrigue, Alero, and OK with the last edition of Bravada and Aurora.

Acura's raison d'etre is non-existent in 2016.

Its an also ran brand.

Its a me too car company lost in the shuffle.

I dont like the TLX. Its bland, boring, stale.

An Accord seems like a better buy. Other than the SH-AWD and PAWS techs, there is no other reason to consider an Acura product over a Honda product.

Ditto with the ILX. The Civic is a more livelier product. Fun. Exciting to drive. Just as nice of an interior....

My Acura TL drives like a FWD car. Its heavy...

I dont mind it. Its a fine cruiser. Acura's were never cruisers. They were light on their feet.

Hey....the SH-AWD makes the car dance around corners, but the problem is, the drive itself does not make you want to make the car dance around a corner. The driving dynamics of it does not inspire continual dancing around corners...

Like I said....I....me...myself....I am not a driving around a corner type guy, but that is what Acura's were known for....fun driving dynamics...Acura lost that.

I havent driven the TLX, but I cant stand its looks. So I avoid it in the showroom. In fact. Im bored in the Acura showroom so I dont stay there anymore.

 

[A Horse With No Name]

My love affair with the TLX may come to an end.

We moved here in 1989 for my wife to go to grad school at Ohio State.

I have always thought I would wind up moving on at some point, but methinks I might spend the rest of my life here. Buying an Acura was in my sub conscious I think a way for me to come to grips with living in central Ohio where Honda is a big part of the automotive culture.

Finding a lot of cars kind of polarize me in a kind of negative way, The TLX is at least not a complete turn off.

Would rather buy a WRX which is cheaper. I am kind of migrating back to my sport compact roots....but there are serious things I dislike about every option.

checking back into home prices on Mackinaw Island, Michigan where there are no cars....sigh....