Honda Tuning: 1985 Honda CRX SI

Ah, Honda's glory days.... what a fun car....
1985 Honda CRX SI - CRX Memoirs
Although the first-generation CRX had been formally introduced during the 1984 model year, when Honda unveiled the Si model just 12 months later, enthusiasts realized that the brand’s little, performance-minded hatchback was better in almost every way.
From the June, 2011 issue of Honda Tuning
By Aaron Bonk


Thank the mid-’80’s mini-truck clubs for Honda performance as you know itcarefully tailored mullets, Ray-Ban Aviators, pegged jeans, and all. When you’re done, thank the ’85 CRX Si too. By 1985, mini-trucks were arguably a prevailing force among boy enthusiasts who denied more predictable domestic cars. As expected, testosterone-charged arcade meet-ups lost their luster as mini-truck clubs soon sought a more balanced male-to-female ratio. The fairer sex added an interesting and unexpected element to the equation thougharriving at events in smaller, easier to maneuver Ford Escorts, Volkswagen Rabbits, Nissan Sentras, Toyota MR2s, even Honda CRXs. Discriminating, newly enlightened mini-truckers traded their trucks for hatchbacksso many so that by 1989 Mini-Truckin’ magazine, for example, had a compact performance following so large it spawned the first-ever publication catering to sport compact enthusiasts: Sport Compact Car magazine. Sport Compact Car’s editors would later create Honda Tuning.
Honda’s CRX wasn’t the first sport compact enthusiasts cared about. Volkswagen’s early-’80’s Rabbit GTI overwhelmed much of the competition within a market that, frankly, had little rivalry. Although the first-generation CRX had been formally introduced during the 1984 model year, when Honda unveiled the Si model just 12 months later, enthusiasts realized that the brand’s little, performance-minded hatchback was better in almost every way.

American Honda had a difficult time convincing Honda of Japan to make the CRX available to U.S. consumers. The two-seater was designed for the world market, not Americans. Its essence was aimed toward young, economically conscious, city-dwelling Japanese who grappled with big-city traffic and nonsensical parking. Americans, who Honda’s analysts were convinced bought cars for legroom and impressive cubic-inch counts, were not who the company initially considered as viable consumers. Of course, American Honda was given the go-ahead and, from its first sales brochure and its first commercial, did something nobody expectedit solicited Honda’s all-new sport compact for exactly what it wasa sports car. This should come as no surprise; the Si acronym stands for Sport Injected after all. The media immediately pitted the angular-shaped, two-seater CRX against the GTI and MR2. The CRX delivered. Later, Honda’s CRX made Car and Driver magazine’s Ten Best list in 1985, among other accolades, like earning Motor Trend magazine’s Import Car of the Millennium title in 1990. Road & Track magazine went on to say that the Si had the sprit of an exotic.

Astute enthusiasts appreciated the high-revving Si’s modern fuel injection, taut suspension, precise steering, and ample braking, yet were left jaundiced by the fact that America never received the higher-output 1.6-liter, DOHC version the rest of the world had. To ensure exclusivity to the much-anticipated Acura brand that would launch later that year, and to the chagrin of CRX enthusiasts, twin-cam D-series engines were reserved solely for the upper echelon nameplate’s entry-level compact, the Integra. None of this mattered, though. Every CRX American Honda received sold.

For the rest of the article, follow the link;
http://www.hondatuningmagazine.com/features/htup_1106_1985_honda_crz_si_crx_memoirs/index.html

57mpg 20 yrs ago from Honda? Who knew....

Twenty years ago the car that got the best mileage in the nation was a real techno-wimp compared to what's on the road today. It wasn't even a hybrid. But it got better fuel economy than any car sold now - even the Toyota Prius.

Looking back at the 1987 Honda Civic CRX shows us why cars use so much more gas today and about the trade-offs we've had to make.

The CRX HF got an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 57 mpg gallon in highway driving. Today, the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid Civic you can buy gets an EPA-estimated 34 mpg on the highway. Even today's Honda Civic Hybrid can't match it, achieving EPA-estimated highway mileage of just 45 mpg. The Toyota Prius, today's fuel mileage champ, gets 46 mpg on the highway.

One answer for the mileage drop is that the rating system has changed. Beginning with the 2008 model year, the EPA began using a more rigorous fuel economy test that means lower numbers for most cars. But that's only a small part of the answer.

The bigger answer is that the Honda Civic has changed a lot in twenty years. Honda no longer sells a tiny two-seat version like the CRX. Even Civics with back seats are much bigger and heavier today than similar versions were in 1987. It's in the nature of the car business that companies want to offer more - more legroom, more trunk space - with each redesign. As a result, cars get bigger and bigger. Besides size, American consumers expect a lot more convenience out of a car than they did in 1985. Today, we expect power steering, power brakes, power windows and more.

The base CRX HF did not have power steering or power brakes. (As light as it was, it really didn't need them.) Air conditioning was optional, as it was on most cars in those days, so it didn't figure into the EPA's fuel economy ratings. Today's consumers also expect safety. In the 1980s, car companies would sell cars that got one-star or two-star crash test ratings. Numbers like that would now cause car companies fits. Four out of five stars is considered the minimum acceptable rating.

Here's the rest of the article;
http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/17/autos/honda_civic_hf/?postversion=2007121911

Impending Import Sportscar Comeback

Well the domestic's started it first, by having their 'muscle car' comebacks with the new Dodge Challenger, Charger, old is new again Ford Mustang, and the coming GM Camaro/Firebird. All creating excitement for the respective brands with beautiful designs. (The Challenger and the Camero are going to be HOT cars!)

It looks like the Imports won't be taking this lightly, looking at reinstating some of the retired vehicles. Honda has already in a way entered the fray in 2006 with the Honda Civic Si, which has been argued to be the 'official' replacement of the Prelude. Nissan is rumoured to be bringing back the 240SX for 2010, which would fit nicely in a price point below the 350Z.

2010 Nissan 240SX?

Toyota; rumors of a new Celica are not offical, but some car magazines say that a newly revived Celica may be built by 2011 in front or all-wheel-drive, powered by a V-6, while the sibling Rear-wheel-drive Supra may possibly return as a 2010 model with a supercharged V-6 or hybrid model.

2010+ Toyota Celica?!?

2011+ Toyota Supra?!?

Honda is also talking about bringing back the CRX (see prev. posts) and another rumour is that they may re-badge the S2000 a Acura (here in North America) and bring out a 2 door version of the TSX called a 'Prelude Edition' of some sort. I am not so sure Honda is convinced that it needs another 2 door with the success of the new 2008 Honda Accord. They have the V6 wrapped up with the Accord and they have the 4Cylinder wrapped up with the Civic Si (and the 4Cylinder Accord).

2011 Honda CRX?!? Doubt it.

Honda's CR-Z Concept

This could be what some speculate the new CRX.

The Honda CR-Z is a lightweight, two-seater sportscar equipped with Honda’s petrol-electric hybrid IMA powertrain. Honda is looking at a way to create a lightweight sportscar that is fun to drive, but also good to the environment.

The CR-Z features the latest Honda hybrid IMA powertrain to deliver low emissions and impressive economy.

CRZ stands for Compact Renaissance - Zero.