The Integra nameplate has not seen the light of day for over a decade but finally, Honda’s iconic Sportscar is returning, albeit in the form of a compact liftback sedan…
The 2023 Acura Integra marks the highly anticipated return of one of Acura/Honda’s most iconic nameplates. For those of you who may need a reminder, certain Honda models are sold under the Acura nameplate in the USA. To the dismay of many enthusiasts hoping and praying for a 2-door coupe, however, the latest Integra iteration will be a 4 door sedan liftback. According to Acura, they’re targeting a retail price of roughly $30 000 (R452 000.) There has been no news from Honda SA regarding the local availability of the new Integra.
The compact sedan will be outfitted with a turbocharged 1,5-litre in-line four-cylinder engine sourced from the 2022 Honda Civic Si. Power outputs from the little four-banger are expected to mirror the figures of the Civic Si. What this means is that the Integra will feature the esteemed VTEC system to please the fanboys, albeit with. A slight.y different character given the addition of a turbocharger. Acura claims that the car will have a power output of 149 kW and 260 N.m of torque. Following specs from the Civic, the Integra’s powertrain should allow the compact sedan to have the power delivery of the Honda Civic Si but with the creature comforts that the liftback chassis offers. Unsurprisingly, the car will be front-wheel drive. As for the transmission of the car, it will either be a six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT gearbox, but that is dependent on the trim level.
Trim levels range from the base model then the A-spec Tech model with the A-spec model slotting in between those two.The A-spec Tech package will exclusively feature the aforementioned six-speed manual gearbox mated to a limited-slip differential and auto rev-matching. The interior will be outfitted with a 10,2-inch digital instrument cluster which is standard across the lineup. The base model features a 7-inch infotainment display while the pricier models will be outfitted with a 9-inch display, as well as a heads-up display and wireless phone charger. Driving assistance features include lane assist, pedestrian detection, and cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist.
Words: Ryan de Villiers
