2008 Woodie Awards
Sexy, intelligent, and now with four doors
Ryan Boule
Issue date: 2/2/07 Section: Entertainment
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Sexy, intelligent, now with four doors
Sleek, sexy and redesigned for the more mature sports sedan enthusiast, the new 2007 Honda Civic Si is now offered in a more practical and ergonomic, sedan body style. Now in the sixth generation of Civic Si, Honda is adding the new Civic Si to their amazing list of affordable yet powerful family of sedans.
The Civic engine is rated at 197 horsepower and 139 lbs. of torque. It is a cousin to the Acura RSX Si. Slight changes have been made to Honda's fabled intelligent Variable Valve Timing lift Electronic Control, (iVTEC). The Civic can go from a dead stop to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. A limited slip differential and stiffer suspension keep the Civic on the road during corners and reduce torque steer upon acceleration.
iVTEC is a way to maximize horsepower and fuel economy by changing how the car is running at a certain preset RPM. As soon as the Civic hits 6,000 RPM, iVTEC shifts into control and the whole demeanor changes. What was once a humble yelp from the engine is now a blood-curdling roar as the needle races to the 7,800-RPM redline.
Sport bucket seats with red Si badges on the backrest that are as stylish as they are supportive, come standard along with a close ratio six speed manual transmission right within arm's reach. This car is made to be driven like a racecar. A slightly smaller steering wheel was changed in from the base model for a quicker, more precise steering response improving handling this also gives the new Si an overall sports car feel.
The exterior styling is almost identical to the base model Civic sedan with only a few minor changes such as an aggressive rear wing and 17-inch alloy rims with an option for summer sport tires. A sloping front windshield helps keep things aerodynamic and slick. The subtle DOHC (Dual Overhead Cam) iVTEC decals are the only real warning that this car is a true competitor.
With a price tag of $21,290 and fuel economy of 23/32 (street/highway), this car might be just what you are looking for whether you want a weekend track car or a comfortable daily driver.
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