2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe on Sale March 12

The final members of the re-redesigned 2014 Honda Civic family are expected to be at dealerships before the end of the month, with the 2014 Si Coupe going on sale on March 12 and the 2014 Si Sedan coming exactly two weeks after. Now, as was the case with the rest of the roster, both of the sporty Si models were all-new for 2013, then were refreshed yet further for the current selling season to boost customer satisfaction. True, pricing bumps upward as well, with the MSRP of the 2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe increasing by $275 to $22,790, and the sedan's cost growing by the same amount, to $22,990; but that premium does cover an impressively wide range of upgrades.

First off, the Si models enjoy the same style tweaks as the standard 2014 Honda Civics, but enhanced by Si-specific cues like a revised grille and lower front bumper, a rear air diffuser and wing spoiler, and an exclusive red-and-black interior with carbon-fiber-style trim. Then, the Civic Si duo also welcomes new standard features such as:

• Premium audio with a seven-inch gesture-compatible touchscreen
• Honda's Smart Entry with Push Button Start
• Driver-visibility enhancements such as LaneWatch technology and an expanded-view rearview mirror
• Bigger 18-inch alloy wheels
• Increased power, thanks to a retuned exhaust system

As regards that last advantage, the 2014 Honda Civic Si models now can extricate 205 hp and 174 lb.-ft. of torque from their 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines, representing an extra 4 hp and 4 lb.-ft. of torque as compared to the 2014 editions. However, the change doesn't really impact the power leaderboard for hi-po editions of mainstream compacts, which now looks like this:

• Mazda Mazdaspeed3—263 hp, 280 lb.-ft. of torque
• Ford Focus ST—252 hp, 270 lb.-ft. of torque
• VW Jetta GLI—210 hp, 207 lb.-ft. of torque
• 2014 Honda Civic Si— 205 hp, 174 lb.-ft. of torque
• Kia Forte Koup SX—201 hp, 195 lb.-ft. of torque
• VW GTI—200 hp, 207 lb.-ft. of torque
• Dodge Dart GT—184 hp, 171 lb.-ft. of torque