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The pressure to replace a car that has been a runaway success is a daunting one. The 1984-1991 Honda CRX was a minimalist, two seater hatchback that won the hearts and wallets of miserly and performance-minded buyers. Based on a Civic chassis that had run its course, it was time for a replacement. What Honda delivered in 1993 was a radically different car from the old CRX Still a front-wheel drive two-seater, the del Sol was now a targa top roadster with a retractable rear window. The del Sol had more style and a significantly plusher interior.

Initially the del Sol was offered in two flavors, starting with the base S. Powered by a 1.5L four offering 102hp with 13″ steel wheels, it was a pretty simply machine. The del Sol Si had a 1.6L four with 125hp and 14″ alloys. Other features the Si had over the S were power mirrors, cruise control, rear disc brakes and a front anti-sway bar. Both models had a standard 5-speed manual and optional four-speed automatic.

For enthusiasts, the real news came in 1994 when North American buyers learned the wonder of V-Tec. The hot del Sol now had 160hp, and boasted a host of upgrades, including bigger brakes, a larger front sway bar, an additional rear sway bar and wider tires. I actually drove a brand-new del Sol V-Tec, and I can attest it was a seriously quick and agile car, the most intense Honda we’d ever seen here until the S2000 arrived.