Details of Cars

Honda CR-X del Sol: the targa-top successor to the CR-X

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1992 Honda CR-X del Sol VXi
A 1992 Honda CR-X del Sol VXi. Photo by GPS 56 from New Zealand, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Honda CR-X del Sol, marketed elsewhere as the Civic del Sol, Honda del Sol or Honda CRX, is a two-seater targa-top car manufactured from 1992 until 1998. It used a front-engine layout based on the fifth-generation Civic and was the successor to the Honda CR-X.

Honda CR-X del Sol at a glance

Honda CR-X del Sol key facts
Maker Honda
Production 1992–1998
Class two-seater targa
Platform fifth-generation Civic
Roof removable aluminium hardtop
Roof storage hinged frame in the boot
Rear window motorised drop-down
Base engine (Japan) 1.5-litre SOHC VTEC, 130 PS
Si engine 1.6-litre SOHC VTEC, 16 valves
SiR engine (Japan) 1.6-litre DOHC VTEC, 170 PS
US name Civic del Sol
End of production 1997 in North America, 1998 elsewhere

Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the CR-X del Sol.

History of the Honda CR-X del Sol

A roof that disappears

Honda CRX del Sol
A Honda CRX del Sol. Photo by Guillaume Vachey from Chalon sur Saone, France, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The name del Sol is Spanish for of the sun and refers to the car’s opening roof. The del Sol had a removable aluminium hardtop that stowed on a hinged frame in the boot and a motorised drop-down rear window; manual and automatic TransTop roofs were available in selected markets. It was the first open-air Honda sold in the United States.

Japan and Europe

The CR-X del Sol was introduced to Japan and Europe in 1992 for the 1993 model year. The base VXi came with 13-inch steel wheels and was sold only at Honda Verno dealers, with Japanese VXi and VGi versions using a 1.5-litre D15B VTEC four of 130 PS. The Si, called ESi in Europe, had a 1.6-litre D16Z6 SOHC VTEC engine, 14-inch alloys, rear disc brakes and extra anti-roll bars. Japanese SiR models used a 170 PS 1.6-litre B16A DOHC VTEC with an optional limited-slip differential, and Europe had a premium VTi with the same engine.

North America

In North America the car was marketed as the Civic del Sol from the 1993 model year. Production and sales ended with the 1997 model in North America and 1998 elsewhere.

Design and features

  • Stowing targa roof: an aluminium panel that folds into the boot.
  • Powered rear window: part of the open-air arrangement.
  • VTEC engines: from the economy SOHC units to the 170 PS B16A.
  • Civic base: fifth-generation Civic platform and running gear.

Honda CR-X del Sol versions

  • VXi / VGi (Japan): 1.5-litre SOHC VTEC base models.
  • Si / ESi: 1.6-litre SOHC VTEC with rear disc brakes.
  • SiR (Japan): 170 PS B16A DOHC VTEC.
  • VTi (Europe): the European B16A version.
  • Civic del Sol (North America): the American name.

The del Sol succeeded the Honda CR-X and was built on the Civic platform. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.

Sources

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