Acura’s attempt at reviving the cherished Integra nameplate was a little underwhelming. However, a high-performance variant of the fifth-gen Integra is on its way with the Type S designation.
Acura’s “gold-ole days” were dominated by the image of the insurmountable Integra badge. Four generations of the iconic Japanese performance-inclined coupe — with the fourth generation serving as the epitome of the cherished nameplate— elevated the Acura name to the highest echelons of the performance coupe genre of the 80s and 90s.
Despite an underwhelming return to fame, Acura has announced that a rowdier version of the fifth-generation Integra is being developed. The Type S badging signifies the endowment of a VTEC bearing, turbocharged 2,0-litre four-cylinder capable of producing over 223 kW according to Acura’s claims. Included alongside a beefier motor are a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. There may be a few extra tweaks to the car’s suspension components, chase and maybe even aural enhancements. The Type S variant will be unveiled in 2024 (or maybe after Q2 next year), with more details of the inner workings of this robot racer likely to be revealed closer to its debut.
It’s a fair step up from the Integra unveiled earlier this year. For comparison, the 2022 Integra is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder borrowed from a 2022 Civic Si and is capable of gifting the front wheels with a meagre 149 kW and 260 N.m. The offer of a D-I-Y transmission is available for the current Integra, but only for the higher-spec models.
Another highly anticipated car waiting in the wings of Acura’s production facility is the electrified NSX and its Type S variant, which may only be unveiled to the public late next year. For now, it seems that Acura plans to release a slew of higher-strung models within the coming years. Unfortunately, we’ll only be able to enjoy the Integra Type S in the form of images and exciting cinematic showcases.
