1991 Honda CR-X SiR

It’s a famous racing saying that cutting weight is like adding horsepower. The tiny CR-X SiR represents the pinnacle of Honda’s adherence to this philosophy, achieving both performance and everyday practicality through liberal use of advanced technology and weight savings. The technology came in the form of the engine, called the “B16A,” which was one of the first motors to use Honda’s famous VTEC system. VTEC allows the tiny four cylinder to produce lots of power at the top of the rev range—a full 160 horsepower at 7,600 RPM—while being perfectly tame around town (and delivering excellent fuel economy to boot). The weight savings is evident from just looking at the CR-X—it was incredibly small and light, just 2,160 lbs. in SiR trim. Give the CR-X a windy road and it’ll run circles around cars with several times the raw horsepower, making it inarguably one of the finest front-drivers ever to hit the ground, and a perfect summary of Honda’s less-is-more philosophy.