EXi : 110hp @ 5800 rpms / 135N.m @ 4500 rpms
City: 110hp @ 5800 rpms / 143N.m @ 4800 rpms
Civic came with 4 speed prosmaic whereas City comes with virtual 7 speed CVT - & it's got 'weight to power' & aerodynamic advantage, you can't neglect. There's no way you can beat a Steermatic with a Prosmatic, even if it's VTi. Besides, in my theory, if there would be a Steermatic used to driver, he won't let a manual EXi go.
The problem here is: we don't know how to make a jack rabbit start on Steermatic, as there's no clutch. A driver need to shift for the first speed very precisely & quickly. Steermatic gives max torque @ 4800 & it's VTEC engages at some 4500 rpms? (correct me, anyone). So need to start between these two points; with your VTEC engaged & your car providing almost max torque, without burnouts.
Still not sure about a drag race between manual EXi & Steermatic, but in long stright race, I'd bet my money on City.
Aerodynamics are significant at speeds above 150, & City's some 100+kg lighter than Civic... & another thing: VTEC with 7 speed could be a killer.
Consider if there were a 5 speed tranny, than the engine would have to rev harder & harder especially in bigger gears, to satsify fixed gear ratios - then you'd shift to the next gear with a significant drop in rpms. Whereas in CVT, there's no fixed gear ratios & engine can maintain it's power band. Shifting between 7 speeds does not drop rpms so much down & computer controlled tranny takes lesser time to shift, thus keeping power band higher. 7 Speed means more shifts at redline, thus keeping power band higher with each shift & making it easier for engine to jump to highr rpms in each speed.
(just my two cents)