SEMA 2011: Honda's VTEC Kicks In!

Pardon the overused meme.  It's nice to see Honda focusing on their new Civic Si for SEMA, rather than - oh, I don't know, Elements outfitted for dogs.  They brought a wide array of the new 2.4L powered Si's to SEMA this year, ranging from mild (the HFP package) to wild (the 450-horsepower Fox Marketing turbocharged one I showed you earlier.)  They also brought along a supercharged V6 Accord Coupe, just because.

The Tjin Edition Civic Si Sedan (Above, left) is interesting.  Most notable are the 19" Rotiform BLQ Concave wheels, in orange on the driver's side and purple on the passenger.  Why?  Don't know.  Rotiform is quickly becoming a standard go-to wheel choice for the stance crowd, so it's not particularly shocking to see a set on a SEMA show car.  Tjin's Si is lowered, sports a Thule roof rack, a Wraptivo vinyl body wrap, and some Recaro baby seats in the back.  A Nitrous Express laughing gas system makes the car scoot, and a set of Baer big brakes makes it stop.  This car would fit right in at an I/S/O show.

Altogether crazier is the Civic Si Coupe built for SEMA by Bisimoto engineering.  I've featured the work of California-based Bisimoto before, in an article about the Honda CR-Z which you can read here.  If you're familiar with Bisi, you know they don't make half-ass cars:  like their 724whp single-cam 1.6L EF wagon, or the crazy boosted CR-Z.  With their Si, boost was needed, with a goal in mind:  four-digits of wheel horsepower.  Mission accomplished, with 1,004whp and 620wtq.  The K24 is fully built from the crank up, running a giant Turbonetics/Bisimoto turbo, and sucking down copious amounts of VP Racing E85R - bioethanol.

The HFP Package - Honda Factory Performance - is a little more subtle.  HFP goodies usually aim to improve the handling of Honda's vehicles, and the new HFP is largely the same components as the old one.  There are higher-rate lowering springs, stiffer dampers, and 18" rolling stock with summer tires for grip.  The body kit, HFP floormats, badges and "red interior illumination" don't make it go any faster.  I'm interested to see what kind of Mugen Si they'll cook up for the US.  The HFP package is limited to 500 units per year and is available now.

Honda is showing off two Si race concepts - the HPD (Honda Performance Development) Compass360, and a plain ole' Si Coupe body in white, for if you want to build your own race car.  The shell is just a basic Si chassis, and will run you $3,500.  The Compass360 is built to show off a number of performance parts to make the Si track ready.  Mostly supporting components like bushings, motor mounts, a heavy-duty clutch, brakes, suspension - that kind of thing.

Finally, we have the HFP Accord V6 Supercharged Coupe.  The V6 2-door Accord is arguably the sleeper of Honda's US lineup - a sedate looking car that seems well suited for real-estate agents and accountants, not really the type of thing someone would want to take to the drag strip.  Then again, the upper level Accord Coupe comes with a 3.5L 24v V6 that makes 271bhp and 251lb-ft of torque.  With the optional six-speed manual, it's good for mid 5-second 0-60 runs, and it will definitely show tail lights to an Si.  If you can manage the torque steer.  Nice car, actually.

The HFP concept adds a Rootes-type supercharger (pictured left), similar to the Eaton units used on some GM vehicles.  The way the V6 is mounted (drive belts on the passenger side, airbox on the driver's) necessitates that long jackshaft running over the front cam bank to the blower; this is a setup Jackson Racing and others have used before to supercharged Honda's J-series.  Along with an intake and exhaust system, the blower helps the big V6 produce 335bhp and 285lb-ft of torque, an increase of 64bhp and 34lb-ft of torque, so one can assume this is at a fairly low level of boost. It's also probably safe to assume the torque steer is biblical.  Not surprisingly, Honda isn't planning on selling supercharged V6 Accords (that would be way too cool), but this is doable if you're interested in replacing front tires on a monthly basis.