If you search for ‘Civic’ on Speedhunters, you’ll see 17 pages of results.
With 12 articles per page in the archives, that’s a whopping 204 Honda Civic-related posts alone. This number doesn’t even take into account larger stories that may include multiple Civics or articles that slipped through the tagging process.
Any way you look at it, it’s a lot of content focusing on the Honda favorite. The oldest Civic article in the Speedhunters archives dates from May 19, 2008, with red EG as the cover photo.
Why the nostalgia trip? Aside from the fact that I was only nine years old at the time, it highlights how virtually every conceivable form of Honda Civic has graced our platform over the years.
But just when I thought I’d seen it all, Ryan Basseri and his team at Rywire Motorsport Electronics bring a fresh perspective. You can check out the mid-build story here.
From the outside, this EK Civic looks like any other build in Southern California. The Milano Red paint is about as iconic as Championship White in the world of OEM Honda finishes, and Ryan has retired from the Civic Hall of Fame for the rest of the exterior enhancement.
Exceed Japan’s front lip and rear wing inject a touch of aftermarket aggression into the classic EK lines. OEM+ accents appear in the EK9 Civic Type R grille, headlights, rear lip and European folding exterior mirrors.
“Hondas are a super essential part of SoCal car culture,” says Ryan. “Street racing Hondas in Southern California laid the foundation for the tuning scene in a major way. Because the European Championships are a passion project, I wanted to keep it timeless and nostalgic.”
The standout feature of the exterior is the set of Desmond Regamaster Evo wheels, a true classic in Honda tuning, famously showcased on Spoon Sports’ iconic yellow and blue demo cars in ‘SW388’ form. Complementing the wheels are blue anodized Spoon Sports Nissin brake calipers paired with WrenchMob discs, contrasting the all-red and black styling. Custom KW Motorsport coilovers keep handling under control.
Inside, the upgrades are equally simple but effective, with Recaro SPGs for both Ryan and his passenger. In between sits a Chase Bays handbrake setup, while ahead of the driver lies a Zestek multifunction steering hub and AEM digital display.
With such a period-correct styling aesthetic, only two details hint at the innovative powertrain beneath. One of them is the license plate – a real one ‘if you know, you know’ detail – and the other is the exhaust tip – or lack thereof.
Rywire is known for its electronics work in the automotive aftermarket, but after nearly two decades of building electrical systems for everything from 300-horsepower street cars to 3,000-horsepower drag machines, it was time for Ryan to explore new horizons.
“I have created many custom EV systems under private labels, and these conversions are something that excites me,” he explained. “I like Hondas. I love building them and driving them, so I decided to electrify some of them and see how I enjoy the ride.”
The EK’s powertrain is centered around two Tesla AC drive units, enhanced with upgraded Wavetrac LSDs, all mounted on Hasport mounts with custom fabrication to fit the Civic’s chassis. The result is that the little Honda not only produces 600 horsepower, but also has all-wheel drive.
While the front engine is positioned like a traditional combustion engine, the rear engine is housed under a custom floor in a custom cradle. The cabin floor hides low-profile Tesla batteries in a custom pan. According to Ryan, the most challenging aspects of the project were the “system design and battery box design. What may look simple is the most complicated to make.”
The setup is equipped with battery packs under the modified floor and hidden in two battery boxes, with a power of 400 V at 85 kWh. This gives the car an estimated range of around 400 miles – a hugely impressive number for such a small vehicle.
A range of AEM controllers ensure seamless operation, including a VCU300 control unit, battery management system, combined charging unit and digital display. A Rywire PDM gives Ryan simple control at his fingertips, while Tesla inverters and a Rywire contactor box complete the powertrain.
The cooling system in the EK is a piece of genius that any engineer would appreciate. A CSF Race radiator, positioned behind the Type R grille, provides all the cooling the Civic needs for spirited drives under the Californian sun.
However, when the car is driving in ‘Ludicrous’ mode or during extreme acceleration and deceleration, a little extra cooling is necessary. That is why the car is also equipped with air conditioning. No air conditioning in the interior, but a Freon (coolant) conditioning system next to the CSF Race radiator, which provides an immediate temperature drop even when stationary.
I’m aware that to a car enthusiast or gearhead, some of this may sound like a foreign language, but after brushing up on my EV knowledge, I can assure you that Ryan’s Civic has top-tier hardware and software.
The connection to CSF goes deeper, such as CSF race founder Ravi Dolwani and Ryan share a long history in the tuning industry.
15 years of CSF racing
“Ryan is one of my best friends in the industry. I presented his orange Integra ‘GT3’ project at SEMA in 2015,” Ravi recalls. “It broke barriers…a groundbreaking restomod import built to an unprecedented standard.”
Both CSF and Rywire have come a long way in the aftermarket industry, with Ravi recently celebrating the 15th anniversary of his CSF Race division at CSF Cooling. Last weekend, that milestone was marked with a pre-SEMA 2024 party at the Finish Line Auto Club in Costa Mesa.
Like a trip down CSF memory lane and a showcase of their catalog breadth, the event featured a mix of current and past modified icons, from Porsches such as Ravi’s own CSV 911 and Joey Seely’s E-Motion Engineering Project nasty to Art of Attack BMW M4 competition.
A personal highlight for me was Paul Lefevre’s BMW 2002 – one of my favorite builds of all time. Forget the nice weather; I want to spend some time in LA taking in all the details of this car.
“The energy was buzzing” says Ravi. “There were so many wonderful people from different parts of my life. I had family, many of my closest friends, my neighbors and of course so many people from our industry who have been part of the KSF story over the years from Britain, Thailand, Brazil, Germany, Japan, China and all over the USA.”
“When Ryan told me he was building the European Championship for SEMA, I wanted to support him by giving him the opportunity to show the car in the CSF positionwhich has a prime location. Even more, I wanted to organize an event before SEMA to really draw attention to the car.”
“Again, it breaks down the barriers of what a restomod can be, especially in the import segment. The way he has tucked/sheared the bay, but as an EV, is an evolution and masterstroke from the import scene.”
“The same can be said about my good friend Imran’s Evolve BMW 1M build. Both Imran and Ryan were at my wedding; both are two of my best friends in the industry, and I wanted to do something special for them.”
“Their cars are really unique in themselves, but have so many similarities. And with everything coinciding with the anniversary of the CSF Race this year, it was a perfect opportunity for a great event.”
It’s easy to forget that recognizable brands in multi-million dollar industries often have humble beginnings – whether it’s making a wild move into advanced cooling systems or turning a passion for Honda engine swaps into an electric powerhouse.
While events like the SEMA Show are often seen as a draw—and rightly so, since businesses need customers—it’s important to also keep in mind the dedication and passion behind the scenes. That’s what really gets the wheels turning.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn, mariochristou.world
mariochristou.world
Photography by Darrien Craven
Instagram: _crvn_