At an invitation only reveal in downtown Los Angeles before the LA Auto Show, the 2017 Honda Civic Si prototype made its official debut, giving Honda fans their first look at it.
With the beat of the DJ dance music and flashing video, the next-generation Civic Si Coupe rolled out in near production trim save for a few details and its custom Rallye Red Pearl paint. The Civic Si Coupe and Sedan will complete the range of Civic performance models unveiled this fall, siting between the Civic Sport Hatch and the coming Civic Type R.
Setting the Civic Si apart from the rest is a comprehensive Honda Factory Performance aerobody package that wraps front and rear with unique fascias and aggressive splitters. The front fascia shares the same black grille treatments and faux vents as seen on the new Civic Sport Hatch
The rear fascia also similar to that Sport Hatch employs a third variation shown of the center exhaust with a healthy looking polygonal tip. It wouldn’t be an Si without a proudly large rear wing either. It’s big but not overly done at all.
Wheels will be 19-inch HFP 10-spoke forged alloys with wide 235/35Y tires. And while this Civic is a prototype we’re told the slotted rotors you see through will be available on the final product as will be a performance rubber option.
Powering the 2017 Civic Si will be a high-output version of the new 1.5-liter, directed-injected and turbocharged DOHC four. Horsepower wasn’t specified yet but they said it will be more than the Civic Si that came before it, so expect well over 200 horsepower.
For those who want to step up the performance even more, for the first time a new adjustable active damper system and active steering system will be available to sharpen up the handling. A limited-slip differential also to be an option for better traction in and out of corners.
As expected the Civic Si will come only with a 6-speed manual transmission with a short throw shifter. If you want a CVT you just don’t deserve an Si, period.
The interior treatments will look familiar to Si enthusiasts with black sport seats adorned with red stitching and prominent Si embroidered logos. Red accent stitching flows throughout the interior from the steering wheel and shift knob and to the door panels. On the prototype were also red embroidered floor mats.
What Honda calls dry metal carbon trim shows up here and there and aluminum pedals are found down below. Illumination is red for the center stack and TFT instrument cluster. While this is a prototype, most of the interior details should carry through.
The Civic Si Coupe and Sedan will go on sale sometime in spring of 2017 with pricing and final specs to be announced closer to that time.
