Honda Civic Si could preview a reborn Type S
The warmed-up Civic hatch will go on sale in the US but could come to Europe badged as a Type S
Honda has unveiled a new version of the Civic Si at the Los Angeles Motor Show, and it's initially bound only for the American market. However, the good news for UK consumers is that the Civic Si could make its way to the UK, badged as a Type S. The Type S is a halfway house between standard Civic models and the firebreathing Type R cars.
The Civic has been on sale in America for a little while now, and is set to arrive in the UK next spring. A series of 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbocharged engines will feature, with the Civic Si receiving the highest-powered 1.5-litre unit, mated to a six-speed manual.
Honda hasn't yet revealed a power output for the Civic Si, though a Civic is already available in the US with 172bhp. However, Auto Express has already sampled a 201bhp version of the same engine in a test mule in Japan, mated to a CVT automatic gearbox, and it's that engine that's more likely to power the European car.
The Civic Si on show at the LA Motor Show features a full factory aero kit, consisting of front and rear splitters, a rear spoiler, and centrally-mounted exhaust tip. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels with high-performance tyres.
• LA Motor Show 2016
Inside, Honda has promised that the prototype closely previews the production model. That means exclusive sports seats, an aluminium gear shift, aluminium pedals, and lashings of metallic trim and red stitching.
Although no final decision has been made on whether a warm model will come to the UK to sit between the standard models and the Type-R, Honda bosses are said to be keen on the idea, rekindling the spirit of the previous Type S models.
Speaking previously to Auto Express, Honda UK boss Phillip Crossman expressed a desire to expand his range with more engine variants. “I’d like us to compete with rivals who have a number of power outputs from one engine size, before we think about introducing new niche models,” he told us.
The new Civic Si is on display at the LA Motor Show, and will go on sale in the US next year, joining the saloon, coupe and hatchback models.
Would you buy a Honda Civic Type S? Let us know in the comments section below...
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