Honda Del Sol | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Honda |
Also called |
|
Production | 1992–1997 Chassis EG1, EG2, EH1, EH6, EJ4 |
Assembly | Suzuka Plant, Suzuka, Mie, Japan |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Sport compact |
Body style | 2-door roadster |
Layout | FF layout |
Related |
Honda Civic Acura/Honda Integra |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,370 mm (93.3 in) |
Length | 4,005 mm (157.6 in) |
Width | 1,695 mm (66.7 in) |
Height | 1,255 mm (49.4 in) |
Curb weight | 2,295–2,535 lb (1,041–1,150 kg) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Honda CR-X |
Successor |
Honda CR-Z Honda S2000 |
The Honda Civic del Sol is a 2-seater front-engined, front wheel drive, targa top car manufactured by Honda in the 1990s. Based on the Honda Civic platform, the del Sol was the successor to the popular Honda CR-X. It debuted in 1992 in Japan, the United Kingdom, and United States.
The Spanish name del Sol translates to of the sun, and refers to the car's opening roof. It was not a full convertible, featuring a removable hardtop that stowed in the trunk and a retractable rear window for a convertible 'feel' (known as targa top). Trunk space was reduced from 9.5 cubic feet to 6.5 cubic feet while the targa top was stowed.
In the US market the CR-X naming convention was dropped from the del Sol line as it was distinctly different from earlier models, which were hatchbacks and not targas. Starting with the 1995 models, Honda dropped the 'Civic' name from the del Sol in the Americas. In Europe, the car debuted as the Civic CRX. The del Sol tag was added in 1994 and at the same time the Civic name was dropped, naming it the CRX del Sol for the rest of the run.
Production and sales ended with the 1997 model in the U.S. and 1998 elsewhere, with a total of slightly fewer than 75,000 vehicles sold in America.
The CRX del Sol, known simply as the 'del Sol' in the USA (Civic del Sol in the US until 1995 and Civic CRX in Europe until 1994) was first introduced to Japan, Europe, and North America in 1992 in two trim levels, The S and the SI (The European market came with the Japanese-market SiR (called the VTi in Europe) and the US-market Si (called the ESi in Europe). The base "S" model (called the VXi in Japan from 1992–1994, but after 1995 called the VGi) came with a 1.5 liter SOHC 16-valve four cylinder engine and rode on 13" steel wheels, available only at Honda Verno Japanese dealerships. The Japanese VXi/VGi versions came with a Honda D15B-VTEC engine. This was an entry level VTEC engine that produced 128 bhp (95 kW; 130 PS), matching the power of the 1.6 Si version. Despite the body resemblance to a mid-engined car design, the del Sol shared a front-engined design with the contemporary Honda Civic.