Honda CR-X del Sol 1992 - 1998
The Honda Civic CRX del Sol is a 2-seater front-engined, front wheel drive, targa top convertible manufactured by Honda in the 1990s. Based on the crx 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, 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 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.
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. 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 (125 kW) 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, heated mirrors, front fog lights (1995 and onwards) traction contol system, limited slip differential, 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 targa inside.
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) 160 hp (119 kW) 118 lb·ft (160 N·m) (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 Was only availble in japan as a 1.5 single cam vtec VGi is the the Japanese version of the european ESi 1.6 single cam vtec
- Added B16a3 engine (DOHC VTEC) 160 hp (119 kW) 118 lb·ft (160 N·m) (US)
- Redesigned targa top seals to help prevent leakage (US)
- Added Anti-lock brakes (VTEC model), 2,522 lb (1,144 kg) 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) 160 hp (119 kW) 111 lb·ft (150 N·m) (7 lb·ft (9 N·m) less than original) ( B16a2 engine 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 in (4,006 mm)(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 hp (79 kW), 127 hp (95 kW) and 160 hp (120 kW)(US).
- OBD-II Emission control system Implemented.
Changes For 1997:
Changes For 1998:
- Production ends (Japan, Europe)
VIN Decoder
VIN Decoder for US Domestic Market del Sol:
Example Description
Vin #
- ------ J ] - Country of Manufacture J = Japan
H ╗ - HM = 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 ╝
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CR-X_del_Sol