Honda CR-X del Sol

Honda Del Sol
Overview
Manufacturer Honda
Also called Honda Civic del Sol
Production 1992–1998
Chassis EG1, EG2, EH1, EH6
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 D15B7 1.5L 102 hp I4
D16Y7 1.6L 106 hp (79 kW) I4
D16Y8 1.6L 127 hp (95 kW) I4
D16Z6 1.6L 125 hp (93 kW) I4
B16A3 1.6L 160 hp (120 kW) I4 OBD1 (1994-1996)
B16A2 1.6L 160 hp (120 kW) I4 OBD2 (1996-1997)
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 and the United Kingdom, and 1993 in the United States.

The Spanish name del Sol translates to of the sun or from 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 many markets 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 del Sol tag was dropped in 1995, and the car was known as the new CR-X.

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.

Specification

The CRX del Sol, known as the Civic del Sol in the USA and the new CRX in Europe (CR-X del-sol until 1995 when the del Sol was dropped in Europe) was first introduced to Japan and Europe in 1992, and North America in 1993 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.

Back side

The uplevel "Si" (called the "ESi" in Europe) model came standard with a 1.6 liter SOHC 16-valve four cylinder engine with Honda's VTEC. The Si also came with 14" alloy wheels which were offered in an optional body color-matched paint scheme on Samba Green models, power side mirrors, cruise control, rear disc brakes, wider tires, and additional front & rear anti-sway bars for improved handling.

On all models, the only options were a rear spoiler, custom floor mats, an automatic transmission(only in S and SI models), power steering, heated mirrors, front fog lights (1993–1995 models only) traction control system, limited slip differential (not available in USA), and air conditioning.

TransTop

An option available in Japan and Europe was the TransTop, an electric mechanism which retracted the targa top into the trunk via a push of a button. The roof is operated by flicking two catches above the windows, then holding down a button. The trunk lid raises vertically and two arms extend into the targa top. After locking the lid to the arms, the arms pull the targa into the trunk lid, which lowers back down with the roof inside. The open process is reversed for the closure and return of the targa top.[1]

Model updates

Changes for 1992:

Changes for 1993:

Changes for 1994:

Changes for 1995:

Changes for 1996 (mid-model refresh):

Changes for 1997:

Changes for 1998:

Sales

Number of del Sols sold in the USA:[2]

1993 25,748
1994 21,075
1995 14,021
1996 8,489
1997 22,325

VIN Decoder

VIN Decoder for US Domestic Market del Sol:

Example     Description
 Vin #
-------    --------------------------------
   J   ]─ Country of Manufacture: J= Japan
   H   ]─ Make: H= Honda Motor Company
   M   ]─ Passenger car
   E   ┐ 	   EG1 = D15B7 (93-95 S)
   G   ├─ Engine:  EG2 = B16A3 (94-95 VTEC), B16A2 (96-97 VTEC)
   1   ┘	   EH6 = D16Z6 (93-95 Si), D16Y7 (96-97 S), D16Y8 (96-97 Si) 
   1   ]─ Body/Transmission: 1= 2-Door manual 5-speed   2= 2-Door automatic
   4   ]─ Vehicle Series: 4= S, 6= Si, 7 or 9= Si with ABS, or VTEC
   3   ]─ Check Digit
   S   ]─ Model Year: P= 1993, R= 1994, S= 1995, T= 1996, V= 1997
   S   ]─ Assembly Plant: S= Suzuka
   0   ┐
   0   │
   1   ├── Serial Number, sequentially numbered via production output
   2   │
   3   |
   4   ┘

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Honda CR-X Del Sol.

The Del Sol was also featured in Top Gear USA Season 1, episode ___ in 2015.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, March 04, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.