The five-door comes with a 1.5-liter turbo engine and an optional six-speed manual.
After a nearly two-decade absence, the Integra Prototype made its debut in Los Angeles tonight. If the previous concepts of the luxury automaker are any indication, this five-door hatchback will be a close preview for the 2023 Inta. While some details are still unknown, it is clear that the new Integra will be filling a very nostalgic gap in Acura’s luxury sedan line-up.
The Prototype will be a liftback sedan similar to the 1986 first-generation Integra. However, it will feature Acura styling cues. This means that the Prototype will feature LED headlamps with signature lighting in a chicane-shaped arrangement, which is complemented by an angular “Diamond Pentagon” grille at the front. On either side of the aggressive fastback rear hatch, you’ll find sweeping taillights with an angled internal design and a dazzling headlight. The front door is cut by a sharp line that rises from the wheel arch. This gives the profile an aggressive look without compromising the Integra’s sleek design. The plastic also has retro-inspired “INTEGRA” logos on the front and rear bumpers.
The Civic hatchback has a long front overhang and a small dash-to–axle ratio. It also has an arching roofline that betrays the Acura-spec design cues. Acura did a great job dressing up the Integra. The frameless grille gives it a cleaner front and the hood integrates with the bumper and fenders. The Indy Yellow color was intended to be a reminiscence of the Integra Type R’s Phoenix Yellow. The Integra Prototype is not a retro-redux.
The Acura Integra Prototype that we saw in person does not have an interior because it is a design exercise. It will likely use the beautiful Civic as a starting point. We also expect it to be dressed up with the TLX’s wing-like, contrast color lower dash and softer materials throughout. The True Touchpad Interface from Acura might be available, and the Integra could use a reskinned Honda Civic’s intuitive infotainment system, complete with a 9.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
Something Borrowed
Although it is not confirmed officially, the Integra Prototype will likely ride on the Civic hatch’s chassis. It will be powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four cylinder. This is the same phrase Honda uses to describe its engine in the Civic Si sedan. However, we hope Acura can squeeze a little more power relative to the car’s 200 horsepower (192 pound-feet) and 149 kilowatts (260 newton meters) respectively. The Integra, even if it’s not, is a Civic Si that offers the convenience and power of a liftback. That should be enough to convince some people to buy it.
The 2023 Integra, unlike the manual-only Si , will have both a six speed stick as well as a spec-unconfirmed automated transmission. This is likely to be a continuously variable transmission. The Acura Integra Prototype will have front-wheel drive, but it is not clear if the Acura Integra Prototype or its production-intent successor will have torque-vectoring Super Handling all wheel drive. We expect the Integra Prototype to have the same sturdy structure as the Civic hatchback, with nimble handling capabilities and limited body roll. Acura may also offer a summer-tire option that will allow its compact sedan to make real turns on winding roads.
Crystal Ball
In mid-2022, dealers should receive the production version of Integra Prototype. Although the exact price is not known, Acura stated that the production version of the Integra Prototype would retail for around $30,000 and steal the spotlight from the more expensive Mercedes Benz A-Class, and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. We are also hoping for an Integra Type R with the Honda Civic Type R’s 306.-hp (228-kW), four-cylinder. This ‘Teg could be a great Japanese foil for the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 or BMW M235i Gran Coupe’s stunning front-wheel-drive moves.
We are thrilled that Acura has resurrected such a well-known name from its past, and we can only hope this trend continues. Stay tuned for more information about the Acura Integra Prototype or its 2023 production variant.