Acura calls its new compact Integra Type S “a new interpretation of ultimate street performance for a new generation of enthusiast drivers.” I was among a group of journalists invited to a media event in Southern California for the launch of the 2024 Integra Type S earlier this month. Did the car live up to the brand’s promise?
Integra Background
The Integra has extremely large shoes to fill: Its history dates back to 1986 when it was one of two pioneering models offered by the Acura division of American Honda when the brand first launched (the other was the Legend).
The car’s original mission was to distill Acura’s “Precision Crafted Performance” mantra into a fun-to-drive compact car with sporting aspirations. The Integra’s second generation was introduced in 1990, and a third generation came in 1994. The nameplate took a break in 2002 when the all-new RSX took its spot, and it wasn’t until almost 10 years later, in the fall of 2021, when Acura shared the news that it was working on this next-generation car.
Having personally owned each of the car’s prior generations, I had expectations about the kind of driving experience it needed to deliver.
The New Integra
That brings us to the latest (and greatest?) Integra. The car went on sale in mid-2022 as a five-door hatchback powered by a 1.5-liter, 200-horsepower VTEC inline-four paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously-variable transmission (CVT). Assistant Vice President of Acura National Sales Emile Korkor said, “With its engaging driving character, flexible five-door liftback body style, and advanced technology and features, the Integra will welcome a host of new buyers to the Acura brand.” I enjoyed testing an Integra A-Spec last year.
The emphasis from the beginning was to evoke the same joy of driving that attracted so many people to the brand in the early years. And, it is working, according to sales figures: In April 2023, the car posted its best month ever at over 3,300 units. That number put it at the top of the “premium gateway” segment in which it competes. In total, the car sold nearly 20,000 units in its first year of being on sale. An impressive 70% of buyers have come from other brands, and the manual transmission take-rate has been 19% which I found particularly neat.
Upping the Ante
But what’s next? Acura as a brand has always been extremely proud of its racing heritage, having earned trophies in performance driving events around the world. One example of such an achievement was a win at this year’s Rolex 24 in Daytona, Florida.
With that in mind, Acura is now injecting the same performance DNA from its all-out racecars into its showroom offerings. This started a couple of years ago with the midsized TLX Type S all-wheel drive sport sedan, drawing power from a 3.0-liter, 355-horsepower turbocharged V6. The Type S nameplate has since been applied to other models including the MDX crossover and the halo NSX supercar. That brings us to the newest version of the Integra.
Type S Fundamentals
First and foremost, the Integra Type S is set apart from the base model by its drivetrain: Powering the five-door hatchback is a turbocharged 2.0-liter VTEC inline-four that produces 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It is offered exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential, and a lightweight flywheel gives quick, maximum engagement. A car’s performance credentials revolve around more than just acceleration (Acura’s key formula is “Go + Stop + Turn”), so the Integra Type S also has four-piston Brembo front brakes and high-performance summer tires for added handling and stopping capability.
The body built around that drivetrain is also eye-catching and unique. The Integra Type S is wider than its base counterpart by nearly three inches, and aerodynamic treatment includes a functional vent in the aluminum hood, front and rear spoilers, and blistered fenders. The center-mounted triple exhaust outlets at the rear give an unmistakable message about the car’s performance. Moving to the interior, the Ultrasuede-trimmed sport seats are grippy and there are Type S-specific touches like embossed headrests, color-keyed passenger under-dash treatment, and a unique shift knob. The Type S was engineered to stand out from every perspective.
How’s It Drive?
The most important assessment of a car requires way more than its tech data, which is why Acura turned us loose on the backroads near Santa Barbara to truly get a feel for the Integra’s skill level on the road in real life.
If ever there were a time to need a poker face, I would have failed at showing one during my first drive with the car. The grins came effortlessly. I saddled up in the highly-bolstered driver seat next to Chris Tobias from Acura Connected for our 65-mile one-way trek to the designated lunch spot. The twisty two-laners leaving the Ojai Valley Inn on Highway 150 gave me a chance to toggle the dynamic drive setting to “Sport +” which unleashed the max sound, performance, and capability of the car. The gearbox was seamless and satisfying to operate.
The car felt light, and I liked its tossable size when compared to the car’s larger TLX sibling. From a power-to-weight perspective, the new Integra Type S offers a distinct advantage compared to prior performance Integra models, even including the coveted Type R of two decades ago: Specifically, the 1997 through 2001 Type R had a 13.2 lb-per-horsepower rating, and the new Type S weighs 10.1 lbs per horsepower. I found the car eager to rev, easy to control, and extremely grippy.
I admired the car’s polished fit and finish. It felt confident in virtually any scenario, whether accelerating onto a freeway onramp, tearing up a canyon road, or casually cruising through town. In fact, one of the car’s best attributes might be its versatility. In Comfort mode, the driving experience was as user-friendly as any compact hatchback can be: The sounds were muted and suspension was damped. But when pushed, the car had capabilities that encouraged me to push it harder – sometimes even harder than my novice driving skill should allow.
Driving dynamics aside, I found the technology to be intuitive and meaningful. The nine-inch touchscreen was easy to navigate, and the 16-speaker ELS sound system rocked. Acura calls its digital instrument cluster a “Precision Cockpit,” and the gauges are highly customizable. When activating Sport + mode, a red color scheme came to life.
Now On Sale
As of June 19, the Integra is available for order or purchase at dealers nationwide. Acura initially offered a pre-sale order of the first 200 units of the Integra Type S back in May (and the spots quickly sold out).
There are seven exterior colors available along with three interior colors. Adding to that, Acura will offer accessories including a carbon fiber spoiler, carbon fiber sideview mirror caps, a bike rack, two different colors of the 19-inch lightweight wheels, an illuminated front logo, and other personalization options. The Type S retail price is $51,995 including destination which slots the car competitively compared to similar models in the segment from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes.
Closing Thoughts
Perhaps the most compelling thing about the spicy Integra Type S is that it was made for driving enthusiasts, by driving enthusiasts. As internal combustion motors and manual transmissions ride off into the sunset, Acura is going out with a bang with a performance-built, well-balanced, and grin-inducing car that still delivers the utility of a hatchback and the fuel economy of a four-cylinder.
This Integra Type S is destined to be a future collectible. Problem is, it would be an absolute shame to put this car away in a garage and let it collect dust. It’s a car that begs relentlessly to be driven!
Stay tuned to The Journal for more to come on this hot hatchback.
It just seems a shame that the $50k+ price is going to keep it out of reach from those who would most enjoy and use it for it’s purpose. Old guys reliving their college years, who definitely won’t flog it are the only group with this kinda money. Still, a sweet car.