Honda Civic: Straight out of Japan!

K24 – does that ring a bell? If you’re from Japan or just neck-deep in Honda lore, you already know it’s shorthand for one of Honda’s most beloved engine. But here’s the twist – we’re not talking about the Honda Accord today. Instead, meet the fifth-gen EG8 Honda Civic, a clean ’95 JDM import that’s been given a wild heart transplant: a K24 motor under the bonnet. In India, the Honda Civic has been the choice of both die-hard petrolheads and folks who preferred to be driven around in style. But while the Civic debuted globally in 1972, we only got our first taste with the eighth-gen in 2006.

The Civic which was launched here had a very futuristic cabin, with a digital speedometer placed right where modern car HUDs would usually go, a big tachometer on the cluster, opposite blade wipers, and paddle shifters. But this isn’t another “I slammed my 2007 Civic and added a loud exhaust” story. No sir. This is about Khalid – a man who doesn’t just think outside the box; he imports the box straight from Japan. At its introduction, it won the Car of the Year Japan, and was available in hatchback, coupe, and sedan body styles. Khalid and his brother have been knee-deep in JDM culture for years, collecting and building Japanese legends on their own terms. This EG8? Just one of the gems in their garage.

Khalid’s car is the four-door sedan, and he has done way more than just tuning the engine. Under the hood, instead of the stock 1.5-litre engine, there’s a K24 2.4-litre motor, from the 2005 Honda Accord, which pushes out 142bhp and 196Nm. This bulletproof motor is commonly known to be extraordinarily reliable, and comes with a timing chain instead of a timing belt. To handle the bigger engine and increased power, there’s racing engine mounts from Hasport Performance. And to be able to send all that torque to the front wheels smoothly, there’s an aftermarket driveshaft. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, with a short shifter, and an upgraded Exedy clutch. To supply the engine with fresh cold air, there’s an upgraded K&N cold-air intake, with a stainless steel pipe. To further improve breathability, there’s a custom full-system racing exhaust.

On the outside, the Civic is instantly recognisable. Not recognisable as a Civic, in India for sure, but you can easily tell that you’re looking at an import car. The design is like no other Indian car, and when you tell people that it’s a Civic, you can see the shock on their face combined with happiness. The Civic is such an enthusiast car, that the moment you bring its name up, people get happy within. This car is finished in red, and has a big ‘Oh So Glow’ sticker on the rear windshield, because it also has underbody lights. The suspension has been swapped out with a racing suspension from Skunk, and the car has been lowered with springs. The car rides on 16-inch Volk Racing wheels painted in white, shod in grippy Bridgestone rubber.

Inside, it’s still a ‘90s Civic, which means it’s basic – but not boring. The front seats have been replaced with custom racing bucket seats, there’s a Momo steering wheel, and Alcantara upholstery on the doors. On the dash, there’s a rocker switch with a lid, which is configured to release fuel into the engine. This switch mimics a race car, with a lot of rocker switches.

Khalid is a car guy in and out. He not only takes his Civic but also his other JDM cars to community events and tuner fests – Generation Speed, Valley Run, and more. Although the recently-motioned old car import policy only allows the import of cars that have been manufactured in 1975 or earlier, the policy is on a rolling basis. So, if you’re looking to get your hands on a project car, keep an eye out for older cars that you could purchase from Japan, and import it to India. That would be so cool, wouldn’t it?