Plus Si-ze Civic; The hot Honda continues to grow.(Auto File)(Honda Civic SI)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)

There it is, sitting in the back of a local dealer's lot. Less than 40,000 miles on the odo, looking absolutely new. A 1989 Honda Civic Si, all 2100 pounds and 108 horsepower from 1.6 liters of displacement. Red. 4500 bucks. In a middle row, a blue 1999 Si coupe. Same 1.6 liters, but pumping out 160 horsepower and topping the scales at just over 2600 pounds. Low mileage, $16,000. One eyeball on each vehicle and it's clear: Baby grew up.

But here sits the 2002 version, occupying prime real estate just off the street, glinting at passersby in a bright silver. MSRP: $19,460. The latest is the biggest Si yet, not only the heaviest at 2744 pounds, but with the largest engine of any Civic to carry the magic badge. Baby's still growing.

With 2.0 liters of four-cylinder power and i-VTEC's continuous adjustment of intake cam timing making 160 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, it's the most powerful Civic for the U.S. market ever, by virtue of its 21 extra lb-ft over the 1999-2000 iteration. But it's not the fastest. When the 1999 Civic Si was new we clocked it at 7.23 seconds in a 0-to-60-mph sprint; the 2002 took 7.82. Quarter-mile time was also slower for the new Si, at 15.93 seconds at 87.4 mph vs. 15.64 seconds at 88.9 mph for the older model.

Honda's switch to front struts in the latest-generation Civic (from double wishbones) was roundly criticized by performance enthusiasts, but it hasn't hurt much. Through the slalom we hit 43.9 ...