Save the best for last
As everything that follows it will not have a combustion engine, the nostalgia-infused Integra will be remembered as Acura’s gasoline-fueled epilogue. Automotive News reports that Honda’s premium division will be celebrating the ICE’s rebirth with an iconic vehicle. Emile Korkor is the assistant vice president of Acura National Sales and believes that Civic-based liftback buyers will be “ready for the next generation,” whatever its form.
The 2023 Integra will allow Acura to retain its loyal customers before it embraces electrification. The plan is to forgo hybrids and concentrate solely on battery powered EVs. The first will be an SUV that is related to the 2024 Honda Prologue. Both will be built on the General Motors Ultium bespoke platform.
Korkor informed AN in the interim that the ILXreplacement was well-received and Acura believes most production will be represented through the A-Spec with Technology package. The base trim level costs less than $37,000, or $5,000 more. This new model represents a shift in strategy. Previously, the majority of sales were made in lower configurations. The Integra will generate the most volume with the more expensive specifications.
Acura knew that enthusiasts would choose the six-speed manual gearbox and decided to include a clutch pedal in only the top-end trim. This was without incurring too much cost. It rides on the same platform that the Civic so the company was able spread development costs and keep Integra affordable even when fully loaded. It’s also made in the USA, rather than imported, which has helped to keep prices down.
Emile Korkor said that the “positioning of the Integra is really important, as a true gateway for the brand and a worthy successor to the original Integra.” The production at Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant began at the beginning. Acura dealers will have vehicles up for display starting in June.