The livestream begins at 8:35 PM EDT / 5:35 pm PST.
Although there had been rumors of the Integra’s revival for some time, most people were still shocked when Acura announced the news at the unveil event for the NSX Type S. A sporty five-door liftback will be available from Honda’s luxury division starting in 2022. The Integra, which has been inactive for 15 years, is now back. It takes the form of a new-generation Civic for China. We know.
We won’t see the final product tonight. Instead, we will be seeing a prototype. The road-going model will likely remain the same if it looks anything like the Civic Prototype a year ago. We are glad Honda continues to cater to enthusiasts with a compact, sporty model, even though it does have a few more doors. There’s still the Civic Si sedan, and the Type R hot hatchback.
The big question is: What kind of Acura Integra will be in 2023? A sportier, more elegant Civic sedan with the added functionality of a liftback. An independent model with no Civic ties. Are there any future derivatives that have four or two doors? No matter what the case, the teaser video shows that the car will come with a six speed manual transmission.
It doesn’t seem like a smart business move to develop a new car entirely from scratch, especially considering that crossovers are becoming more popular. We expect the resurrected Integra will remain true to its Honda roots. It is not clear if it will match Civic Si performance, or if Acura plans to upgrade to the type R. There may be two versions of the Integra, one for Si and one for R.
The new model will replace the aging ILX but it will be an entry-level model in Acura’s lineup. It should be able to match the 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine of the new Civic Si. This means that we expect at least 200 horsepower and 192 pounds-feet (260 Newton meters) of torque.
Acura could potentially grab the 2.0-liter engine from future Civic Type R. Power ratings will likely range from 315 to 335 horsepower. The Type R was previously reported to be an all-wheel-drive hybrid, but the latest information suggests that it will continue to use the proven gasoline FWD formula. Similar to the Si, the type R will be a manual-only affair. It would make sense for the Acura Integra equivalent to have a clutch pedal.
Tonight’s official debut will be held in Los Angeles. Join us! The livestream begins at 8:35 PM ET / 5:35 pm PST. Here’s China’s Honda-badged Integra.