Story by Adam Gordon
Photography by Rene Mendez (@Genzilla_Coupe2.0T)
Jonny Couture’s name might be familiar to some readers. His previous CRX made the rounds, even landing in PASMAG, but this one is a different animal. He’s owned it for about two and a half years now, building it from the ground up in his own garage — a full rotisserie process that left no piece untouched. The goal wasn’t to recreate his past success — it was to chase something no one had done before: a right-hand-drive, K-swapped, all-wheel-drive CRX.
At the core of the build is a fully built K20A — sleeved, cammed, and breathing through 58mm TWM individual throttle bodies. Wiseco pistons and Manley rods hold it together internally, while a Ferrea valvetrain keeps churning up top. The shaved bay keeps things clean, but far from ornamental. Rywire took care of the harness, while cooling duties were split between Killer Glass hoses, a Chase Bays overflow, and a tucked Hush Performance battery box. Downstar and K-Tuned components are scattered throughout — functional accents that serve both form and purpose.
The real party trick is under the surface. The drivetrain was lifted from a K24-powered CR-V, giving the CRX full-time AWD through a custom S1 Built driveshaft and Hasport axles. The transmission, transfer case, and diff all managed to fit the compact chassis with some massaging. Nothing here was off-the-shelf plug-and-play. Couture fabricated his own mounts, brackets, and solutions along the way — it’s not like there were DIY instructions for this one on an old forum.
Outside, the Almond Cream paint leans into subtlety. VIS carbon fiber fenders, a Seibon hatch, and a carbon rear visor contrast the softness with texture. JDM pieces like folding mirrors, amber tails, fogs, and a parking pole nod to the car’s original identity, while the antenna delete and Sol Kreations vent pieces sharpen the silhouette.
Inside, there’s not much that hasn’t been modified. A full layer of Dynamat lines the shell, cutting the noise. The front seats were swapped for carbon Kevmannz buckets, anchored by Sparco harnesses and a custom bar. In the rear, a JDM seat conversion, reupholstered in Bride gradation to match the headliner, cargo cover, and armrest. The cluster is from an S2000, a sought-after conversion for many Honda fans. The center console was designed and 3D-printed to house an iPad — a modern touch in a sea of rare classic parts.
The race-spec K-Tuned shifter assembly connects to a Competition Clutch setup, while a Wilwood pedal box handles footwork. Everything inside feels like it belongs — not just in the car, but in this car specifically. Couture didn’t build this car to chase a trend or win a show. He built it because it hadn’t been done, and because it wasn’t supposed to be possible. That’s the kind of thinking that turns a humble CRX into something entirely different — not louder or flashier, just special. And that might be the hardest thing to replicate.
ESSENTIALS
1988 Honda CRX
Location: Youngtown, AZ
Club: NvUS
SOCIAL
IG: @sxyrexy2.0
ENGINE
K20A engine swap
Darton sleeves
Wiesco pistons
Manley rods
K20A head
Ferrea valve train
Stage 3 cams
58mm TWM individual throttle bodies
Shaved engine bay
Downstar (hardware, satin black solenoid cap)
Hush Performance bumper battery box
Rywire custom harness
Skunk2 timing cover
K-Tuned (valve cover, oil cap, dipstick, swivel billet thermostat housing, heater hoses, right engine mount bracket)
Chase bays coolant overflow
Killer Glass custom upper and lower hoses
Custom rear engine mount
S1 Built headers
AEM fuel pump
Aeromotive FPR
EXHAUST
Custom 3-inch oval exhaust
K-Tuned Turndown muffler
DRIVETRAIN
Honda K24 CRV (AWD transmission, transfer case, differential)
Competition Clutch stage 2 clutch
K-Tuned shifter cable bushings
Hasport axles
S1 Built (custom driveshaft, carrier bearings)
Wilwood clutch line
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
Desmond Regamaster wheels - 16x7
Toyo Extensa tires - 205/45/16
RAYS satin black lug nuts
Wilwood (front BBK, brake master cylinder, custom brake lines)
R1 Concepts (rear rotors, rear pads)
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
Custom 3-piece strut bar
EXTERIOR
Almond Cream paint
Downstar hardware
JDM (power folding mirrors, amber tail lights w/ new CRX decal, parking pole, fog lights)
Antenna delete
Sol Kreations (windshield cowl, window vents)
VIS carbon fiber fenders
Carbon fiber rear visor
Seibon Carbon hatch
Aux beam LED headlight conversion
INTERIOR
Full Dynamat interior sound deadening
Carbon Kevmannz custom seats
Sparco seat harnesses
Custom harness bar
Sol Kreations ECU mount plate
JDM (rear seat conversion w/ Bride gradation reupholstery, carbon fiber arm rest, road flare light w/ bracket, personal trash box, A pillar light)
Bride fabric reupholstered (headliner, rear cargo cover, arm rest)
Custom digital clock
Custom 3D-printed ipad center console
Honda S2000 AP1 cluster swap
Custom carbon fiber complete center console
Wilwood race pedal box Custom made Carbon fiber glove box
Bride rear speaker covers
Momo (alcantara steering wheel, wheel hub)
NRG E-brake handle
K-Tuned (shift knob, race shifter assembly, Pro race spec shifter cables, datalogger)
Black rear hatch carpet
Paint-matched fuel cell
S1 Built fuel filler kit, custom fuel door bezel)
AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS
Dash-mounted iPad
Odyssey battery
