DC Sports Acura RSX Type-S - Supertest

DC Sports carries the kind of name recognition reserved for a short list of companies that have helped shape the sport compact market.

Since its inception, DC Sports has sold products based on a reputation of quality and extensive development, which is why it has sold more Honda/Acura headers than any other company. So it's of little surprise that DC jumped on the RSX, outfitting one with the gamut of its bolt-on products.

In a perfect world, "clean" would describe the look of more sport compacts. It exemplifies the DC Type-S. The car is devoid of aero enhancement except for the subtle Honda Optional Equipment underbody kit. It wears tasteful graphics, strong yet attractive wheels, and big, trick calipers. This is how it should be done.

To make the power and the noise for Type-S owners, DC created the usual intake, header and exhaust combo. In keeping with its reputation for building factory-fit items, the DC Sports DAC Intake uses all the factory sensors and breather hoses in their factory locations, and requires no modification to the car. A CNC-machined coupler mates the 3-inch, mandrel-bent aluminum intake to the throttle body.

After passing through the two factory catalytic converters, exhaust gases route through a cat-back stainless-steel exhaust into DC Sports' twin canister muffler. DC Sports' philosophy maintains that you can have optimal flow and a quiet exhaust note. At the very least it adds a unique look to the car. DC Sports has tested the exhaust for the 95-dB limit compliance.

Rounding out the power mods is a prototype DC Sports four-into-one stainless-steel header, currently awaiting CARB approval. Rather than having the luxury of playing with secondary length and pipe diameter to make power, given the integral factory cat in the secondary, DC optimized the primaries. It arrived at a four-into-one design with a split collector after extensive dyno testing. The exhaust is both unobtrusive at cruising speeds and lively at high rpm and in heavy throttle situations. And as we have come to expect from DC Sports, build and weld quality even on the prototype was excellent.

Plus it all works. The DC Sports-equipped Type-S made 188 hp at 7600 rpm on our rollers, an increase of 17.8 hp more than stock. And its torque curve is improved, making more power everywhere in its rev range except at 6000 rpm where it flattens for a moment before taking off again.

At the track, it clicked off a 14.9-sec. quarter mile at 95.6 mph and a strong 6.7-second run in the 0-60 mph test. While not the quickest we ran, it is quicker than the last stock RSX Type-S we tested.

Lowering ride height is accomplished with lowering springs from H&R riding on factory struts/shocks. Helping stiffen the front end is a DC Sports upper strut tower bar CNC-machined from 6061 aluminum. Joining the rear strut towers is a similar bar, and the rear control arms are braced with a DC Sports lower tie bar also machined from aluminum. In contrast to the car's burgundy metallic paint are a set of striking charcoal-colored 18-inch multi-piece Volk GT-N wheels pressed to the pavement with large Yokohama Paradas.

The suspension bits assembled by DC Sports are meant to produce crisp handling, and they do. Despite the RSX's already stiff chassis, there's always room for improvement. By tying up the flex points, DC Sports made the Type-S more responsive. Handling is significantly improved. The DC car managed .93 g on the skidpad and 72.3 mph through the slalom. Both performances are much better then stock.

The Project four-piston calipers originally destined for a S2000 are impressive and look at home under the large Volks. The brakes use the stock rotors, but the larger overall torque potential and greater heat dissipation offered by the large aluminum calipers would have likely given the DC Sports car the nod in high-temp, high-speed braking exercises. Still, a 132-ft. stop from 60 mph, although not as short as the other cars in this test, is better than stock. And we should all keep in mind, that many of the other cars in this super test wore race rubber, while DC's Paradas are real street tires.

The DC Sports RSX is exactly what we expected: A no-compromise daily driver, that stands out in a crowd and works. And it's done with simple high-quality, factory fit bolt-on parts.

DC Sports Acura RSX Type-S
Chassis Code: DC5

Engine

Engine Code: K20C
Type: Inline four, aluminum block and head
Internal Modifications: None
External Modifications: DC Sports DAC intake, DC Sports Twin Canister System (TCS) exhaust, DC Sports four into one header, DC Sports billet oil cap
Engine Management Modifications: None
Measured Wheel Horsepower: 188 hp
Measured Wheel Torque: 132 lb-ft

Drivetrain

Layout: Transverse front engine, front-wheel drive
Drivetrain Modifications: None

Suspension

Front: H&R lowering springs, DC Sports upper strut tower bar
Rear: H&R lowering springs, DC Sports upper strut tower bar, DC Sports rear lower tie bar

Brakes

Front: Project four-piston calipers
Rear: Stock

External

Wheels:
Tires: 225/40R-18 Yokohama Parada
Body: Acura Optional Equipment under body kit

Interior

DC Sports billet shift knob

PERFORMANCE
Acceleration	DC Sports	Stock
0-30 mph:	2.9 sec.	3.0 sec.
0-60 mph:	6.7 sec.	6.9 sec.
30-50 mph:	2.4 sec.	2.5 sec.
50-70 mph:	3.3 sec.	3.4 sec.
1/4 Mile Time:	14.9 sec.	15.0 sec.
1/4 Mile Time:	95.6 mph	94.5 mph

HANDLING
Lateral grip (200ft skidpad):
0.88g	0.84g
Slalom Speed (700 ft slalom):
69.9 mph	68.0 mph

BRAKING
60-0 stopping distance:
122 ft	133 ft