Though Honda enthusiasts with a taste for speed will soon be able to pick up a Civic Si, it won’t be the only way to get a powerful Civic. Honda tuning company Hondata now offers a new tune for manual-transmission turbocharged Civics. It increases boost by 9 psi and adds a whopping 35 peak horsepower and 60 peak pound-feet of torque. Those increases bring Hondata’s Civic Sport test car up to about 225 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque from a measured 191 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque stock number. Also, even though the tune for the extra 9 psi is only for manual-equipped Civic turbos, CVT models will be offered tunes that add 3 or 6 psi, the latter of which is good for 214 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. Hondata says these numbers reflect output at the crankshaft.
This means that the company’s Civic Sport is making 20 more horsepower and 62 pound-feet more torque than a new Si. Those are just the peak numbers, too. As you can see in the dyno graph provided to us by Hondata, the tuned car, shown in blue-green, has power and torque gains across the entire rev band compared with the stock car, shown in pink. In some areas, the horsepower gains are greater than that of the peak number.
Hondata’s tune doesn’t just add power, either. It brings no-lift shifting capability, seen in the video at the top of the post. According to Hondata, this helps keep the turbo spooled when shifting. The tune is CARB-pending, too, so California owners should soon be able to install the tune and still pass emissions testing. But the best part may be the fact that this upgrade can be had for as little as $ 350 by having a Hondata dealer flash the ECU. For $ 695, you can have the tune on a Hondata FlashPro tool, which will allow you to switch back to stock at anytime, or install lower pressure tunes. A CARB-pending FlashPro is also on the way that will allow switching between tunes, but won’t allow for additional tuning of ignition and fuel maps.
Pricing hasn’t been released for the Honda Civic Si yet, but it’s safe to say that, power per dollar, Hondata’s tune is the better value. It’s also the only way you’ll be able to get a hot version of the Civic hatch that isn’t the Type R, which will likely be very expensive. However, the extra money you’ll probably spend on an Si over a normal turbo Civic will net you more than just power. You’ll get desirable features such as a limited slip differential, heated sport seats, sunroof, improved suspension, and a better stereo. Plus, there’s a good chance Hondata will have some tuning goodies for the Si once it’s out. Still, there’s no question this upgrade for normal turbo Civics is a great value.
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