2017 Honda Civic Si Brings Turbo to the Table for the First Time

Honda has taken to the internet to reveal the new 2017 Civic Si on its YouTube channel.

The new Si, which will be offered as a coupe or sedan, will be the first Si model to ever use a turbo engine, with power coming from a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 205 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 192 lb-ft of torque from 2100-5000 rpm. The engine will send its power exclusively through a six-speed manual transmission.

Weight reduction and a more rigid body should help the Si’s lap times along with straight line speed, while upgraded steering with variable ratios, a sport-tuned suspension, an adaptive damper system and a helical limited-slip differential are all included. The brakes have been upgraded as well to 12.3-inch rotors in the front while a wider 235/40 R18 tire option will help the car stick.

In addition to the adaptive dampers, the suspension has stiffer springs, more rigid stabilizer bars and the same strong front upper control arms used in the Civic Type R.

Two drive modes will be available with the Si, Normal and Sport, with Sport mode adjusting the dampers, throttle response and steering ratio for a more “taut and direct driving experience.”

SEE ALSO: 2018 Honda Civic Type R Video, First Look

For new looks, Honda has added what it calls a black “wing” front fascia with large air intake features, new 18-inch alloy wheels with a two-tone finish, a chrome center-mounted polygonal exhaust, a deck lid spoiler with incorporated LED brake light and a raiser spoiler over top.

Inside, exclusive bolstered front sport seats with red stitching are included along with Si stitched logos, while the red stitching carries on to the doors, steering wheel and leather shift boot. The driver’s info cluster, aluminum sport pedals, and instrument panel trim are all finished in red to complete the Si’s interior look. In the center stack there is a seven-inch Display Audio system that can run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sending music through a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo.

To make life a little easier, Honda has added some of the convenience features from the new Civic EX-T, including walk away door locking, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and rain-sensing wipers. The parking brake has also been converted to an electronic unit.

Honda says that the Si will start in the mid-$20,000s and will go sale in May, 2017.