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The reborn Acura Integra has been revealed

Monday, 15 November 2021

Acura has brought the Integra back as a five-door fastback.

The covers have finally been whipped off the prototype Acura Integra, and it looks all but ready to go.

Acura has kept the low-slung fastback body shape for the Integra – no “surprise, it’s a crossover SUV” moments here. It’s currently only confirmed to arrive as a five-door, and features Acura’s latest design language.

That includes a distinctive swoopy DRL light signature with four main bulbs slightly reminiscent of the NSX, a small pentagonal upper grille, a crease in the profile running from the front wheel arch upwards to meet the C pillar, and special ‘Integra’ decals to go with the Indy Yellow paintjob.

The Acura Integra blends the Honda Civic’s bones with Acura’s sharper design language.
The Acura Integra blends the Honda Civic’s bones with Acura’s sharper design language.

It also gets twin exhaust tips with yellow insides, and ‘Integra’ embossed on the front and rear bumpers, like the older ones had. Apparently, the taillights are inspired by earlier Integras, bearing a 'Chicane' signature design.

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Since this is a prototype, we wouldn’t expect the yellow exhaust pipes to make production.
Since this is a prototype, we wouldn’t expect the yellow exhaust pipes to make production.

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Power will come from a 1.5-litre turbocharged ‘high-output’ engine.
Power will come from a 1.5-litre turbocharged ‘high-output’ engine.

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While the performance figures revealed so far aren’t earthshaking, there is room yet for a Type R version.
While the performance figures revealed so far aren’t earthshaking, there is room yet for a Type R version.

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Behind the Integra Prototype's matte-finish 19-inch split five spoke wheels are chunky Brembo high-performance brakes calipers, also finished in Indy Yellow.

It is reportedly aimed at real drivers, coming standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, a limited-slip differential and “high-output” 1.5-litre turbocharged VTEC engine.

No mention was made of its power output, but going by other 1.5-litre engines built by Honda, we’d expect around 145kW and upwards of 260Nm of torque.

The underlying bones of the Integra will be the same as the current Honda Civic (which also explains the fact the Integra looks a lot like a hotter, rebadged Civic), albeit with a sportier suspension tune, stiffer springs and firmer adaptive dampers for a better drive.

Acura made no mention of a Type R version, but it would be safe to assume such a model is under works.

This is the first time the Integra will be built in the US, as well as the first time the model will get a turbocharged engine.

“The Integra is one of the most iconic models in Acura's history,” said Jon Ikeda, Vice President and Acura Brand Officer.

“This new Integra, will continue to deliver on the original's unique aspirational yet attainable market position, with emotional performance and style, combined with the versatility and utility sought after by today's buyers.”

We haven’t heard anything from Honda New Zealand (or Honda global, for that matter) about a version that could come here, so for now, this remains an American-only model, set for a launch in the first half of 2022.

In the meantime, we will definitely get the next-generation Civic Type R, which is expected to carry over the existing turbocharged 2.0-litre engine making somewhere north of 228kW/400Nm, possibly with some electrical assistance.