Newsday, Melville, N.Y., Road Test column: Slick new Honda Si will raise the heartbeat of gearheads.

Publication: Newsday (Melville, NY)

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COPYRIGHT 2006 Newsday

Byline: Tom Incantalupo

Mar. 31--Although car buyers by the millions drove one home, the previous-generation Honda Civic reputedly was a disappointment to enthusiast types. Most disappointing of all was the Civic that was supposed to be built for them - the Si, whose styling was uninspired and horsepower output unexciting at 160. For 2006, the gearheads should be happier. The new Si has 37 more horses under its hood, 7 more pound-feet of torque, a six-speed stick instead of five, and larger, 17-inch wheels. The engine air intake and exhaust systems deliver an engine tone guaranteed to raise the heartbeat of anyone who loves cars. Slick new looks outside and futuristic styling inside are as fresh as a sunrise. The Si is a coupe now, not a hatchback, and unfortunately it has lost almost 3 inches of badly needed rear-seat legroom in the redesign. All Civics still are front-wheel-drive. For the record, Honda says the new Si's wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than its predecessor's, while overall length is up 9.1 inches and weight is up by 95 pounds. The Si's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes 197...

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