Can a sporty hatchback such as the Honda Civic truly compete against a sports car like the Acura TLX Type S? Basically, no, but tuning opens up new opportunities.
In its factory guise, the Civic comes equipped with a humble 1.5-liter turbocharged engine churning out 180 PS (178 hp / 132 kW) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque to the crank. Thanks to numerous modifications, however, this particular example makes a healthy 300 PS (296 hp / 221 kW) along with 325 Nm (240 lb-ft) of torque. A CVT carries the torque to the front axle.
This leaves the Acura still ahead with its 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 pumping out 355 PS (350 hp / 261 kW) and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft) of torque without any powerups. It also benefits from a ten-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Where things take a turn for the reverse is weight: the TLS Type S is no feather at nearly 1,900 kilos (4,180 lbs), while its rival weighs almost half a metric ton (1,100 lbs) less than that.
Do you think the Honda Civic has what it takes to show the taillights to its haughty cousin? Watch the video and find out!