Honda announced a new trim level that slots between EX and LX but the wording in their press release got some Civic fans confused.

Big news for Honda Civic fans today as the 10th gen Civic introduced in 2016 finally got a much-needed mid-cycle refresh albeit a light one at that. According to Honda in their press release they dropped earlier yesterday (Aug 13,2018) they also announced a new Sport trim with various exterior upgrades but also announced that this Sport trim would come with a “high-revving 2.0-liter 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® engine.” This got a lot of people confused because the base K20C2 engine in the LX trim level is not particularly high-revving. I can confirm that Honda just got a little “rev happy” with their copy.

K20C2
K20C2

In other words, no, the new Civic Sport trim will NOT have a different engine. In fact, as hinted, the engine will stay exactly the same, which isn’t a bad thing really.

According to VTEC.net’s resident Honda insider JeffX, “I have confirmed it is carryover.”

For new Civic lovers out their curious about this Sport trim engine AKA the base EX-engine, here’s the tale of the tape. The K20C2 engine is part of Honda’s legendary K-series family of engines that dates back to 2001, so while you think you’re not getting the better turbo engines, getting something as proven as a K-series ain’t all that bad. This puppy puts out a respectable 158 HP at 6500 RPM and 134 lb-ft at 4200 RPM with a redline of 6700 RPM which Honda is now calling, “high-revving.”

Keep in mind that this is the exact same engine that the United States Formula 4 Championship uses, which is a claim that even the new L15B7 turbo engine can’t make.

Going back to the Sport trim upgrade, what you DO get is…

Civic Sport’s increased attitude comes from a piano black lower front fascia, side pod accents and, for Sedan, an added rear decklid spoiler, plus a splitter-style rear lower bumper incorporating a chrome polygonal exhaust finisher similar to Civic Si. Larger 18-inch (+1 inch) 10-spoke alloy wheels with Berlina Black finish complete the Sport’s more aggressive look.

Note that Honda says the Sport trim exhaust is LIKE the Civic Si’s HDMI-looking exhaust and probably isn’t exactly alike given the Si’s exhaust is attached to a different engine.

So, no, there’s no new engine in the Sport trim, just a really good K20C2.

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