acura celebrates 40th birthday with ridiculous cool retro integra Acura has hit middle age. Yup, it might be hard to believe, but the Japanese brand turns the big 4-0 today. It was March 27, 1986, when Acura was first launched in America as the first Japanese luxury car brand ahead of Lexus or Infiniti. The first models to hit our shores were the mid-size Legend and compact Integra. Although the Legend is well known with gearheads, it's the Integra that's arguably the second most well-known Acura model after the legendary NSX. acura celebrates 40th birthday with ridiculous cool retro integra acura celebrates 40th birthday with ridiculous cool retro integra To celebrate the brand's birthday, Acura has released something special and ridiculously cool. Called the Acura Integra 40 Racer, it's a modified first-generation Integra tribute build to honor the manufacturer's first race car: the Comptech Integra No. 48. For those not around in the 1980s, the Comptech Integra was a wee bit dominate in its time. It won consecutive IMSA International Sedan Series Manufacturers' and Drivers' Championships from 1987 to 1990. 2026 Nissan Armada NISMO: All the Details acura celebrates 40th birthday with ridiculous cool retro integra "As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Acura brand, we're not just honoring our history, we're accelerating toward a future that will continue to be defined by daring innovation, a deep commitment to Acura customers and our Precision Crafted Performance brand DNA," said Mike Langel, assistant vice president of Acura National Sales. acura celebrates 40th birthday with ridiculous cool retro integra As cool as the car is to look at, the specifications and modifications done are more than just skin deep. Take a look at the entire laundry list of upgrades below. Acura Integra 40 Racer Modifications Powertrain Rebuilt original D16A1 engine and 5‑speed manualMonsoon ECUCoil‑on‑plug conversionStainless 4‑2‑1 long‑tube headerCustom Borla exhaustTorsen‑type limited‑slip differential Suspension, Steering & Brakes Tein coiloversAdjustable panhard barManual steering rackManual brake conversionCarbotech performance brake padsStainless braided brake linesLightweight Mugen 14‑inch wheelsYokohama ADVAN - A050 semi-slick tires Interior Custom roll cage by Blackbird FabworxOMP racing seats with 6‑point Endurance harnesses Body and Paint Rio Red Metallic exterior paintQuartz Silver stripped interior and engine bay acura celebrates 40th birthday with ridiculous cool retro integra The tribute race car is built by Honda Racing Corporation US (HRC US) and will make its debut at the 51st Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. 2026 Mercedes G 580 With EQ Technology: All the Details