Earlier this month, the covers came off the new Honda Civic Sedan. Although still in prototype form, the Civic looks decidedly production-ready and that's no bad thing since the design is more mature, sleek, and refined than the current model. At the time, Honda confirmed that the 2022 Civic will once again spawn a sportier Si variant.

We now have our first glimpse at the new Civic Si after a user on the forum CivicXI shared footage of what looks to be the brand new Si being tested in Hocking Hills, Ohio. Two camouflaged Civics were following a 2020 Civic Si on the stretch of road.

Although the short video clip makes it tricky to decipher the Si's details, the user who drove past the three Civics said that the low-rise trunk spoiler was noticeable compared to the standard Civic. He could also pick up a large intercooler opening and bigger, more aggressive wheels. The LED DRLs and the shape of the hood are clearly reminiscent of the Civic prototype seen a few days ago.

When it arrives, the Civic Si should once again strike a neat stylistic balance between the more restrained standard model and the hardcore Type R. We would've loved to have seen a shot of the rear to find out if the new Si has the same aggressive central exhaust as the current version.

So far, there has been no confirmation on powertrain options for the upcoming Civic and Civic Si. However, the current crop of Civic engines remains competitive so we wouldn't be surprised to see Honda stick with these.

The existing Civic Si uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that produces 205 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, along with Honda's fantastic six-speed manual gearbox. It accelerates to 60 mph in around 6.5 seconds, making it one of the most enjoyable small sedans to drive.

Although Honda has dropped the manual gearbox from the standard Civic sedan lineup, we are hopeful that the stick-shift is retained for the new Civic Si when it arrives.