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There’s something of a JDM rebirth going on in America at the moment. On the eve of the 2022 Honda Civic Si debut, there’s no better time to discuss it. From Honda’s efforts with the Type R and Si Civic, to the Acura Integra, to the 2022 Subaru WRX, it’s a good time to be a JDM fan. Obviously, we can thank the inevitable development of nostalgia in the children of the early 2000s and ’90s.

However, whether that influx of Japanese Domestic Market nostalgia will translate into yet another iconic generation of cars from Japan remains to be seen, with the Civic helping set the pace.

The Civic Si is back

The camo-liveried 2022 Honda Civic Si during race testing shot from the front 3/4
The race-spec 2022 Honda Civic Si during testing | Honda

If we’re basing that potential for greatness on the last Civic Si, then we’re in good hands. The last-gen car quickly turned itself into the cheap performance car of choice. The sheer numbers done by the 2020 model were staggering enough to make even the Volkswagen GTI seriously nervous.

Reall, if you think about it, all Honda has to do is not ruin the next car. The engine, Honda’s K20 four cylinder, is a buzzy little unit that’s plenty reliable. Honda hasn’t messed up a manual transmission in God knows how long, and FWD is kinda their thing over there. As long as the ingredients are there, the new Si will be fantastic.

You can only get a manual in the 2022 Honda Civic Si

The rear of an orange 2022 Honda Civic Si
The 2022 Honda Civic Si | Honda

Speaking of that manual transmission Honda is so famous for, it’ll be the only option in the 2022 Honda Civic Si. There’s no automatic option, unlike in the traditionally manual Subaru WRX. It’s great to see sticks in the marketplace, but an automatic would help those who physically can’t drive stick into the new Si. There’s always the chance Honda decides to add one later, which would be a first for a modern Si.

We really don’t have much in terms of specs for the 2022 Honda Civic Si. Right now, all we know is it’s going to use the same engine as last year’s model and a manual transmission. Obviously, we can also count FWD among those specs. However, that’ll all change tomorrow when we finally get a look at the new model.

The new Civic Si promises to be reliable and fun to drive

The race-spec Civic Si being loaded into a trailer, shot from the rear 3/4.
The race Si gets a big ol’ wing | Honda

With what little info we have, the new Civic Si looks to be great on paper. Honda has enough confidence to give early test models to race teams, which speaks volumes about the capabilities of the new car. The Si is a favorite in the British Touring Car Championship, and hopefully the feedback from race teams will be implemented into customer cars. For now, stay tuned while we wait for the official announcement from Japan.

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Chase Bierenkoven

Chase Bierenkoven has been obsessed with cars his whole life and now finds joy in sharing what he’s learned from his own daily drivers. Chase earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology with a focus on legal studies from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and quickly became an automotive journalist. When he isn’t writing, Chase is either driving his passion project, a 2004 BMW M3 in Carbon Schwartz Metallic, or playing around Colorado’s terrain, mainly mountain biking and skiing.