With a 197-horsepower (hp) 2.0-liter engine that delivers 139 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2011 Honda Civic Si is nothing to scoff at. However, the perfectionists at Honda have dropped a larger, more powerful 2.4-liter engine in the new 2012 model.
Available starting this spring, the new Honda Civic Si offers a boost in hp, and significantly more torque. Expected ratings are 200 and 170 respectively. For torque, that's a 22-percent increase over last year's model!
You needn't worry that this upgrade will hit your wallet in the long run, either. Honda indicates that even with the added power, the vehicle's EPA-rated fuel economy has improved by 2 mpg, coming in at a very competitive 31 mpg.
Speaking on the efficiency of the new Civic lineup, John Mendel, Executive Vice President of Sales, America Honda Motor Co. said, "The Civic is the only model in the industry that can deliver on all fronts - fuel economy, sporty performance, smart packaging, alternative fuel and long-term value. For the ninth-generation Civic, we are emphasizing improved fuel economy across the board, from the hybrid sedan to the sporty Si model."1
Honda released several specs on, and pics of, the 2012 Honda Civic lineup, after previewing the restyling of the model with concept cars at the Detroit auto show. Among the details released for the entire 2012 Honda Civic lineup, are:
- Coupe and sedan body styles prevail.- Hybrid and natural-gas powered versions continue as well.
- New HF trim to join Civic lineup. (With a 140-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, the Civic HF is expected to get 41 mpg-highway.)
- All Civics, but the Si gain Honda's ECO Assist technology. (This changes the color in the speedometer from green to blue, depending on level of aggressiveness while driving.)
- Similar to the system used in the CR-Z hybrid, the Civic hybrid uses a lithium-ion battery as well as a 110-hp, 1.5-liter gasoline engine and a continuously variable transmission.
