Honda debuts, customizes 2014 Civic Si at SEMA 2013 (pictures)

LAS VEGAS -- In many ways, Honda was one of the first Japanese manufacturers to recognize and embrace the customizing and tuning craze, so it's always good to see what the automaker brings to one of the largest gatherings of aftermarket parts manufacturers, the 2013 SEMA Show.

This 2013 Honda Accord Sedan, for example, was customized by MAD Industries and features a host of styling, tech, and performance upgrades.

With the upgrades under its belt, MAD Industries then wrapped the whole thing in matte-red metallic and satin-black 3M Scotchprint Wrap Film 1080 and sat it on 20-inch, staggered-fit Niche Road wheels and Pirelli P Zero high-performance tires.

Honda's Odyssey minivan isn't the sort of car that you'd expect to see at a show like SEMA, but even it wasn't exempt from the customizer touch.

This 2014 "Power-Van" was upgraded substantially by Bisimoto Engineering with a pair of Turbonetics BTX7265 turbos and a full host of engine upgrades to handle the increased boost. If you're unfamiliar with Bisi's work, prepare to be amazed by this next bit.

After the upgrades and a bit of tuning black magic the Odyssey "Power-Van" outputs a whopping 1,029 horsepower. Not a bad bump when you consider that the high-output, 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine produces 248 horsepower from the factory.

Honda also had another MAD Industries custom, a 2013 Civic Si sedan, on display. This example has received a host of styling and chassis upgrades, including Eibach Pro-Kit performance springs, Honda Factory Performance 18-inch wheels, and graphics.

The Civic Sedan was revised for the 2013 model year, but the Coupe remained unchanged...until today.

Honda pulled the wraps off the 2014 Civic Si Coupe at the 2013 SEMA Show, bringing it up-to-date with the sedan. But Honda states that this isn't just a two-door version of the four-door...I'd beg to differ.

The Civic Coupe features a grille that flows into and joins the more aggressive headlamps. This Si model also features a much angrier-looking lower bumper with large openings around the foglamps.

Where the Coupe and Sedan differ the most is the profile. Obviously, the Coupe has two fewer doors, but its roof line is also more severe.

The base coupe will feature 17-inch wheels, but the Si model will roll on 18-inchers shod in 225/40 R18 Y-rated Continental rubber.

The Si Coupe will also feature a larger wing spoiler than even the Si sedan offered.

Around back, you'll find a rear bumper that's been molded to resemble a racing diffuser and the business end of the retuned exhaust system.

Coupe and Coupe Si models will also feature wider front fenders, new taillamps, and redesigned wing mirrors.

It's no surprise that the front-wheel drive Si Coupe will be powered by the same 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine that powered the 2013 model. Output has been increased thanks to the new exhaust system and now sits at 205 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque.

Honda is reserving the rest of the details about the 2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe for the 2013 LA Auto Show, which is just a few weeks away.

Honda wants owners to be able to customize their new Civics, but doesn't necessarily want them voiding their warranties to do so. So it's offering a range of Honda Genuine Accessories coinciding with the car's launch.

An example of an accessory-enhanced Civic Coupe was on hand. This non-Si example doesn't feature the Si's spoiler, but still looks pretty sporty with its optional body parts and 18-inch wheels of a different design.

Honda also announced that its Honda Performance Development race engineering division will be offering and selling street-oriented performance parts for its current and new models. HPD accessories will, presumably, be offered alongside the Honda Genuine Accessories and Honda Factory Performance (HFP) parts.

To illustrate what is possible, Honda unveiled the HPD Civic Street Performance Concept, which features many HPD race parts and a wild graphic scheme.

Modifications include HPD's "Big Brake" kit, performance springs, rear antiroll bar, larger 18-inch wheels, and a K24Z7 racing engine. Some of the concept's upgraded parts may make it to the street, others will not.

HPD is coming to the streets with its parts, but its roots are in racing. To illustrate this, Honda also brought a race-ready HPD Honda Civic Si to the SEMA Show.

This vehicle will be campaigned in actual races and features a stripped-out, roll-caged interior and a full array of race-ready upgrades.

The racetrack is no place for big, shiny wheels, so in place of the 18-inch rollers and low-profile rubber, the HPD Honda Civic Si Coupe Race Car features smaller 16-inch wheels that make room for stickier, meatier Continental racing tires.

Perhaps the most interesting HPD-related announcement is related to the Honda CR-Z Hybrid coupe. Owners and enthusiasts asked for more power, so Honda and HPD are giving it to them, offering a supercharger upgrade that bumps the coupe's 130 horsepower output with 70 additional ponies while keeping the warranty intact.