Honda reveals its line-up for the 2019 SEMA Show – 926 hp Civic, modded CR-Vs, N600 with VFR800 engine

For this year’s SEMA Show, Honda has prepared a unique exhibit to celebrate its 60-year heritage in North America, with a mix of old and new vehicles that will no doubt attract a fair bit of attention.

First up, there’s a pair of 2020 Honda CR-V builds – “Do” and “Dream” – prepared by Jsport Performance Accessories. The former was created with the concept of a “weekend warrior” in mind, and features a 1.5-inch lift kit, side steps, 17-inch KMC off-road wheels with Nitto Terra Grappler all-terrain tyres, and a Cannondale mountain bike mounted to the roof basket.

Meanwhile, the “Dream” is for those who want something a lot more rugged, and gets a new front bumper, rear tire gate, Plateau modular roof rack, Roofnest Falcon rooftop tent and the cargo area has been outfitted with an organisation cabinet and a slide-out refrigerator. The SUV gets the same 1.5-inch lift kit, side steps and wheels as the “Do,” but with Nitto Ridge Grappler tyres instead.

Continuing the SUV theme is the Rally Passport, which was built by Honda R&D associates to showcase the model’s off-road capability. The vehicle competed in the Limited 4WD class of the American Rally Association, where it placed second in class and 12th overall out of 75 total competitors. Modifications include a roll cage, Maxxis RAZR MT Tires on Braid wheels, Carbotech brake pads, skid plates in the front and rear, and a hand-operated hydraulic brake.

Fans of the Civic will be glad to know there are three different projects that will be displayed, including two that have been featured on Super Street magazine. The first is based on the FC-generation Civic Si, which sports an intake and intercooler kit, ECU re-flash, reworked exhaust system and turbo kit. Interior modifications include lower-positioned seats with more pronounced thigh and side bolsters, an adjustable length and height shifter, and adjustable gas pedal spacer.

Next up is the winner of the Civic Si Challenge in 2000, which has been faithfully preserved by American Honda as a representation of tuner styles of the early 21st century. The Civic Si Challenge asked participants to modify a stock Civic Si with a US$10,000 budget and turn it into a show, drag, or race car, or a combination of all three, with the winning car you see here being duplicated by Mattel as a 1:18-scale model.

For something even more exciting, there’s Jeanneret Racing and Olson Kustom Works’ Civic Si Drift Car, which packs 926 hp. This project saw extensive modifications to convert it from a front-wheel drive car into a rear-wheel drive one, including re-orienting the upgraded K24 engine and ensuring the chassis and body are up to spec as well.

Classic Hondas are represented by a custom 1968 Honda S800 Coupe “Outlaw” built by producer and actor Daniel Wu, which was lovingly restored and fitted with a custom GReddy exhaust, Pandem bodykit, lowered suspension, widened stock steel wheels with Toyo R888R tyres and a bespoke interior.

There’s also a rather cute N600 that hides a 800 cc V4 motorcycle engine (from a VFR800) that revs to 12,000 rpm, with the tiny hot rod being a project that was built over a five-year period by Dean Williams and now owned by Stephen Mines.

The only non-Honda vehicle that will be at the company’s stand this year is a faithful replica of the red-and-white Chevy Apache pickup used by Honda motorcycle salespeople in the early 1960s. The pick-up truck also carries two important motorcycles that were key to American Honda Motor’s growth in the country, including 1965 Honda 50 (also known as the Super Cub) and the CB160 sport bike.

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