When it comes to modified Civics, the chassis configuration of choice among performance enthusiasts seems to be the hatch. That's how it is with cars built before 2001, anyway, but it hasn't really been the story with the late-model Civic Si. The newest Honda hatchback hasn't shown itself to be as popular, at least not yet, possibly because in bone stock form it looks rather like an EK hatch crossed with a refrigerator. From a mechanical point of view, however, it's a great car. With the 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine sunk beneath the hood it's damn quick even before mods, and the funky dash-mounted shifter is the tightest this side of a Mazda MX-5.
Showstoppers USA proprietor Chuck Hernandez saw past the vehicle's initial blockiness when he picked a 2003 Si as his newest project, which he built to promote his business. Incidentally, he also drives the car daily. From the beginning, Hernandez was very effective in drumming up support for the vehicle, working with several companies to develop prototype parts, in the interest of improving both performance and appearance. In the process of building the car, he also conducted a good bit of dialogue on EPhatch.com, an online discussion forum dedicated to this particular platform.
The first area to receive upgrades was the car's looks. We think everyone will agree it was a good call, as the stock EP Civic Si is one car that just begs to have its look altered. The stock wheels and tires were the first things to go, replaced with a set of 18-inch Volk GT-N wheels, gold-painted rims with a polished lip. These were strung with the latest performance tires from Nitto, Neo Gen, in a 215/35R18 format.
Aerodynamic enhancements were next on the menu to add some tension to the bland and boxy EP lines. Hernandez requested a full body kit from Buddy Club specifically for this car, which at the time did not exist. A prototype kit, made completely of high-quality, hand-laid fiberglass, was finished in two months and delivered for fitment. It comprises new front and rear bumpers and side skirts. The rest of the exterior enhancements were executed in carbon fiber, like the Mugen roof wing and hood, and the Spoon Sports power rearview mirrors. Other, smaller additions include red Honda badges, carbon headlight eyelids, and a JDM taillight conversion. The car was also given a fresh coat of paint, a custom mix called Vivid Blue Pearl, applied by TPR Autobody in Van Nuys, Calif.
Of course, even with the bigger wheels and a completely revamped exterior, the Si still sat way too high, and the stock suspension was way too squishy for a performance enthusiast's tastes. Near the same time the car rolled out of the paint booth, The Progress Group in Anaheim had finished designing a competition suspension system for it. The system comprises full coilovers at all four corners, as well as new anti-sway bars. As the car sits now, ride height is perfect, with the wheel and tire package neatly filling the fender wells with absolutely no tuck whatsoever. While the wheels were off, Hernandez also elected to upgrade the brakes. The front binders were pulled and replaced with Rotora assemblies, which include 330mm rotors and four-piston calipers. The rears remain2 in their original configuration, aside from Axxis metallic pads, and braided stainless lines were placed all around.
Another of Hernandez' big accomplishments was scoring a turbo kit from Rev Hard to deliver the power the car would need to bring its acceleration into league with its remapped exterior and performance-minded suspension upgrades. The kit is based on a new cast iron manifold and T3/T4 hybrid turbo. Rev Hard includes all the goodies with this basic hardware, including a Turbo Smart wastegate, Vortech blow-off valve, front-mount intercooler and complete plumbing, 2.5-inch exhaust downpipe, 440cc injectors, all the necessary lines, and a remapped ECU. Hernandez paired this kit with his own choice upgrades, which include Civic Type R camshafts, an HKS exhaust system and a flywheel from an RSX Type S. To make sure the power gets all the way to the pavement--a claimed 266 hp at the wheels--Hernandez also implemented an upgraded ACT clutch assembly and Quaife torque-biasing differential. The diff is one upgrade that scores him big points with us. A Buddy Club dress-up kit and custom carbon-fiber shrouding bring the bay's visual appeal up to that of the car's exterior.
Inside the cockpit there are a few new additions--it's only natural. The front seats, pretty good to begin with, have been replaced by Bride Ergo 2 buckets. An Autometer boost gauge has been located in the dash just to the right of the shifter. The shifter itself was modified with a Buddy Club knob and JDM-style boot. A new stereo system was mapped out by Sight Waves in Los Angeles, and includes a Clarion touch-screen DVD head unit, MB Quart speakers, a Sony amp and an Audiobahn subwoofer. This ICE isn't over the top; the installation is clean and simple, perfect for the daily-driven vehicle. Probably the very coolest thing about the interior is the carbon-fiber hatch cover, the first we've seen and a very unique addition to the overall product.
To date, Hernandez' EP Si has competed in only one show, Importfest 2003, where it took home a first place trophy in the Civic class. Hernandez hasn't competed since, preferring to leave the limelight to his many customers' cars, which attend many of the same events he does. His reasoning is he's a professional, with a lot of sponsors behind his back, giving him an advantage over your average hobbyist.
That's not to say he's not done with the Si just yet. He says a full right-hand drive conversion is in the works. Whether he's a creative genius or just a glutton for punishment remains to be seen, but given the caliber of the Si's current status we say if anyone could pull it off, it would be the well-connected Chuck Hernandez. - Import Tuner Magazine |
