New Honda Civic Si looks even better as a race car

Remember the Civic Si race car with a big wing? It was part of Honda's teaser campaign for the sportier sedan, and at the time, it was still covered in camouflage. It seems Honda didn't forget about it following the 2022 Civic Si's debut.

Now that the production model has debuted, Honda has revealed its race car counterpart along with other modified Civics. All of them will be displayed at the 2021 SEMA Show.

The Civic Si race car is developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD) as a turn-key racer and is designed for Touring Car competition. Honda says it's built from a body-in-white for touring car series, club racing, and dedicated track day use. Since it is a race car, it doesn't come with a sunroof, soundproofing, and underbody coating.

HPD also made several modifications to the drivetrain and suspension to improve performance on the track. The Civic Si race car uses the same turbocharged engine and six-speed manual gearbox but receives a performance ECU, upgraded radiator, Cusco LSD, and a high-strength 4th-gear set. As for the suspension, nearly all components have been replaced with adjustable items for better handling. For the exterior, the race car features a large wing, an HPD lip kit, and a set of 17-inch lightweight wheels wrapped in racing slicks.

Aside from the turn-key race car, the Team Honda Research West Civic Si Race Car will also be showcased at SEMA. This vehicle will compete at the 25-hour of Thunderhill in December. It looks a lot more aggressive than the orange example above and features more modifications. It adopts a front splitter, hood vents, and an even larger GT wing. A properly badass Civic Si race car.

The other notable builds include a Civic Hatchback by Team Liquid as part of the brand's partnership with the professional e-sports team. There's also another HPD Civic Si that shows the optional parts customers can order from dealerships. The parts list includes a wraparound lip kit, an HPD emblem, and 18-inch wheels.

Other Honda models heading to SEMA include a few rugged Passport SUVs and a special Accord Wagon inspired by the JACCS Accord race car powered by the new Civic Type R's K20C1 engine.

But between the Civics heading to SEMA, which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.