At SEMA, Honda unveiled the Civic Mugen SI Sedan. The good news for the US market is that the wait is over and that the Civic Mugen will also be available in here -on sale starting the spring of 2007- not only in Japan.

Since 1973, when Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda founder Soichiro Honda, set up Mugen in Japan he has never put the name on a vehicle sold in the United States.

Mendel says the timing is right for bringing Mugen to America. "We know this (Mugen) will sell," Mendel said. "It will be assembled and have a warranty by Honda, similar to the high-performance AMG vehicles by Mercedes. The Mugen Si sedan elevates the already impressive Si sedan into new performance territory."

The Mugen will be powered by the same 197-hp, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine as the Si sedan and coupe models. It will also have the same six-speed manual transmission. Planned for production in a limited quantity of 500 units a year, the Civic MUGEN Si will be available at U.S. Honda dealers starting in spring 2007 with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of less than $30.000.