Honda CR-X del Sol

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Honda CR-X Del Sol

Manufacturer	Honda
Also called	Honda Civic del Sol, Honda CRX
Production	1992–1998 Chassis EG1, EG2, EH1, EH6
Predecessor	Honda CR-X
Successor	Honda S2000
Class	Sport compact
Body style(s)	2-door roadster
Layout	FF layout
Engine(s)	D15B7 1.5L 102 hp I4 D16Z6 1.6L 125 hp (93 kW) I4 B16A3 1.6L 160 hp (120 kW) I D16Y7 1.6L 106 hp (79 kW) I4 D16Y8 1.6L 127 hp (95 kW) I4 B16A3 1.6L 160 hp (120 kW) I4 1994-1996 OBD1 B16A2 1.6L 160 hp (120 kW) I4 1996-1997 OBD2
Transmission(s)	4-Speed Automatic Overdrive 5-Speed Manual Overdrive
Wheelbase	2370 mm (93.3 in)
Length	4005 mm (157.6 in)
Width	1695 mm (66.7 in)
Height	1255 mm (49.4 in)
Fuel capacity	45 L (12 US gal; 10 imp gal)
Related	Honda Civic Honda CR-V

The Honda Civic CRX del Sol was a 2-seater front-engined, front wheel drive, targa top convertible manufactured by Honda in the 1990s. Based on the 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 as 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 that "convertible" feel. Trunk space was reduced from 10.5cf to 8.3cf while the targa 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 CRX.

Production and sales ended with the 1997 model in the U.S. and 1998 elsewhere, with a total of slightly fewer than 75,000 models sold in America. The car was replaced by the high-performance S2000 roadster in 1999.

[edit] 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) was first introduced to Japan in 1992, and Europe 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. The Japanese VXi/VGi versions came with a Honda D15B engine. This was an entry level VTEC engine that produces 130 bhp (97 kW; 132 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.

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 and a front anti-sway bar for improved handling.

The VTEC trim level (called the "SiR" in Japan and the "VTi" in Europe) was added in 1994 in the United States (The CR-X Model in Japan had the B16A engine with 167 hp though), with the first appearance of a 160 hp (119 kW) Honda DOHC VTEC B-series engine in a U.S.-spec Honda; similar to the B16A found in the JDM Civic SiR-II. This trim level came with bigger front brakes, larger front anti-sway bar, additional rear anti-sway bar and wider tires.

On all models, the only options were a rear spoiler, custom floor mats, an automatic transmission (not available on VTEC model), and air conditioning.

[edit] 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 the latches have been flicked back up, the arms pull the targa into the trunk lid, which lowers back down with the targa inside. Several enthusiasts have made the conversion from targa to trans but it is not recommended as it compromises structural integrity.

[edit] Model updates

Changes for 1992:

• CR-X del Sol launched in two trim levels - SiR (VTEC) and VXi (S) (Japan)
• CR-X del-sol launched in two trim levels - VTi (VTEC) and ESi (Si) (Europe)

Changes for 1993:

• Civic del Sol launched in two trim levels - S (VXi) and Si (ESi) (US)

Changes For 1994:

• Added VTEC trim level, with B16a3 engine (DOHC VTEC)160hp 118tq (US), and improved suspension (US)
• S trim level receives front sway bar
• Dual airbags standard (US)

Changes For 1995:

• Civic tag dropped from US del Sol name. Model is now called del Sol (USA)
• del Sol tag dropped from European CR-X del-sol name. Model is now called CRX (Europe)
• VXi trim level becomes VGi (Japan)
• Added B16a3 engine (DOHC VTEC) 160hp 118tq (US)
• Redesigned targa top seals to prevent leakage (US)
• Added Anti-lock brakes (VTEC model), 2,522 base weight now (US)
• Added remote trunk release (US)
• New seat materials (US)
• Low fuel light (US)
• New alloy wheel design (US)
• Added power steering (US); standard on Si, VTEC

Changes For 1996 (mid-model refresh):

• Elimination of B16a3 engine (US)
• Added new VTEC engine B16a2 (DOHC VTEC) 160hp 111tq (7 lbs/tq less than original) ( B16a2 enigne is the same as 99-2000 Civic Si)(US)
• Elimination of front auxiliary headlamps (US)
• Small airdam / rear deck aesthetic treatment (US)
• New front bumper and air dam (US)
• Length increase to 157.7" (US)
• The base del Sol S receives the 106-hp 1.6-liter engine, a four-hp increase over previous year's 1.5-liter. (US)
• The del Sol Si receives the 1996 127 hp Civic engine, as well as the suspension and steering of the 160 hp (120 kW) VTEC. (US)
• All del Sols now have 1.6 liter engines: 106, 127 and 160 hp (120 kW)(US).

Changes For 1997:

• Production ends (Japan, Europe, US)

[edit] Sales

Number of Del Sols sold in USA:

[edit] VIN Decoder

VIN Decoder for US Domestic Market Del Sol:

Example     Description
 Vin #
-------    --------------------------------
   J   ╗
   H   ] - JHM = Honda Motor Co. passenger car
   M   ╝
   E   ╗ 		EG1 = D15B7 (93-95 S)
   G   ] - Engine:	EG2 = B16A2 (96-97 VTEC), B16A3 (94-95 VTEC)
   2   ╝		EH6 = D16Y7 (96-97 S), D16Y8 (96-97 Si), D16Z6 (93-95 Si)
   1   ] - Body/Transmission: 1 = 2-door manual 5-speed    2 = 2-door automatic
   6   ] - Vehicle Series: 4 = S    6 = Si    7 or 9 = Si with ABS, or VTEC
   ?   ] - math check digit
   R   ] - Model Year: P = 1993, R = 1994, S = 1995, T = 1996, V = 1997
   S   ] - Assembly Plant: C = Sayama, S = Suzuka, T = Tochigi
   0   ╗
   0   ║
   5   ] - Serial number, based on the sequence off the
   7   ║      production line
   9   ║
   3   ╝

[edit] See also

Porsche 914 -- the original targa top with vertical rear window

[edit] References

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