By far Honda's biggest gamble, however, is the new drive-by-wire throttle. Instead of a simple cable manipulating the throttle butterfly, a council of electronic governors determines the true intentions of your right foot. Honda seems committed to DBW, so get used to it. The lag between throttle input and power delivery is noticeable and annoying when you're deep into a bout of "spirited driving."
You can smooth it out by dropping revs between shifts, which will work fine for city driving or cruising. But we're hoping aftermarket ECU tweakers like AEM and Hondata can help us ratchet up throttle sensitivity and eliminate the lag.
So don't call it a comeback because the Si never left. We can't bust on the outgoing Si too much, given that its creators didn't equip it with the tools to succeed in life (incidentally, you can probably buy one cheap about now). The '06 Si comes stacked with DNA that reconnects us to a thrill not felt since 2000. There's not much more fun you can buy-everyday-for less than $20K (extra for navigation system). That's assuming, of course, that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Bolts&Washers2006 Honda Civic SiPropulsionThe new Si draws power from the newest K-series engine, the K20Z3. It puts down 197 hp at 7800 rpm and 139 lb-ft of torque at 6200 rpm. It features an 11.0:1 compression ratio, 86mm x 86mm bore/stroke, an 8000-rpm redline and a balance shaft mounted in the oil pan. It gets a 22/31 city/highway estimated gas mileage.
A six-speed manual transmission-the first 6MT offered on a North American Civic-and helical limited-slip transfer power to the ground. First- through fourth-gear ratios are nearly identical to those of the '99-2000 Civic Si.
| Gear Ratios: |
| 1: 3.267 | 3: 1.517 | 5: 0.921 | Final: 4.763 |
| 2: 2.130 | 4: 1.147 | 6: 0.659 | |
Rims & RubberMichelin Pilot HX MXM4 215/45R-17 tires wrap around 17x7-inch alloy wheels. Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 215/45R-17 summer tires are optional, as is a forthcoming 18-inch wheel/Yokohama tire package most likely offered through Honda's Factory Performance division.
StanceWell, it's struts again, to the dismay of many Si purists. But don't trip. Honda engineers spent the last few years studying the EP3 design and radically improving it. There's a Control-Link MacPherson strut suspension up front with a 28mm sway bar and a Reactive-Link double-wishbone rear suspension with 17mm sway bar. Steering geometry is also noticeably improved and features a 13.62:1 steering ratio.
ResistanceUp front are 11.8-inch rotors and two-piston calipers, while 10.2-inch rotors and single-piston calipers handle the rear. Also included are nine-inch power booster, ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution.
FashionOutside: power moonroof, rear-wing spoiler wheelbase: 104.3 incheslength: 174.8 inches height: 53.5 incheswidth: 68.9 inchestrack: 59 inches (front); 60.1 inches (rear)2877-lb. curb weight60/40 front/rear weight distribution
Inside: front and side curtain airbags (standard), power windows and door locks, cruise control; leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum leather-wrapped shift knobheadroom: 37.8 inches (front); 34.7 inches (rear)legroom: 42.6 inches (front); 30.3 inches (rear)cargo volume: 11.5 cu. ft. passenger volume: 83.0 cu. ft.
I.C.E.The Si comes with decent bump, thanks to a 350-watt, seven-speaker system that includes an 8-inch subwoofer. Other features: AM/FM/XM-ready head unit with MP3/Windows Media playback capability; MP3/auxiliary input jack; optional navigation; XM satellite radio (w/navi option); digital audio card reader (w/navi option).