Honda Shows off New Civic Si

Sport compact enthusiasts have been excited with the news that the Honda Civic Type R will finally be coming to Canadian roads. But missing from the lineup was the old quickest model, the Si. Good news, as Honda has just unveiled the new Si prototype, our look at the Si that will launch next year.

The 2017 Si coupe and sedan will get the 1.5L turbocharged four that is currently in the Civic lineup. Power wasn't quoted at the unveiling, but expect it to be somewhere north of the 205 offered up by the last Si, but well beneath the 300+ that will come in the Type R.

That turbo engine will be connected to a six-speed manual transmission that Honda says will have a short-throw shifter. Other performance changes on tap for the Si include active dampers, active steering, and a limited slip differential. Expect high-performance tires to be optional as well, with Honda senior VP Jeff Conrad calling this "hands down, the fastest, best-handling Si we've ever offered to our customers."

The show car came with a Honda Factory Performance body kit with splitters front and rear, a rear spoiler, and a center exit exhaust. There are also HFP 19-inch alloys.

Inside, there are Si-specific sport seats with red stitching and Si logos. That red trim is an Si trademark and continues onto the doors, steering wheel, and shift knob. There is even a red tint to the infotainment display and the dashboard instruments.

Expect the new Si early next year, easing us in to the Civic Type R launch later in 2017.