Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Pulling From The FrontFront-wheel-drive performance cars get a lot of flak for their inherent limitations on the racetrack, including a tendency to understeer and the burden of making the front wheels handle acceleration, steering, and braking all at once. But modern engineering has made them faster and more capable than ever, even if the field is now mostly limited to models like the Honda Civic Type R, Volkswagen Golf GTI, and Hyundai Elantra N.The Acura Integra Type S DE5 also belongs to that club and recently raised the FWD banner at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Driven by two-time Formula Drift champion Dai Yoshihara, the Integra Type S – modified by Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) – beat the previous FWD record by nearly 15 seconds, finishing the 12.42-mile course in 10:33.174. The previous record was 10:48.094, set by Nick Robinson in an Acura TLX A-Spec in 2018.AcuraAn Uphill BattleThat feat was even more impressive given the climb to the 14,115-foot summit, where FWD cars face added challenges. Hard acceleration uphill shifts weight rearward, reducing front-end grip, while the course leaves little room for understeer due to its steep drop-offs and limited barriers. By contrast, Pikes Peak is a playground for all-wheel-drive cars, as shown by the Volkswagen I.D. R, which set the overall course record of 7:57.148 in 2018 with electric propulsion sent to all four wheels.AdvertisementAdvertisementTo be fair, EVs do not suffer the same altitude-related power loss as gas-powered cars. As such, HRC US modified the Acura Integra Type S DE5 to better cope with the demanding conditions at Pikes Peak, fitting it with a high-volume intake system, a charge pipe upgrade kit, and a lightweight tube-and-fin intercooler from PRL Motorsports. It also uses a modified version of the factory 2.0-liter K20C8 engine, producing more than 360 horsepower.Other specs include a 6-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission, Yokohama Advan A005 tires, aerodynamic and cooling enhancements, upgraded suspension and brakes, and a Borla three-inch exhaust system.AcuraStill Chasing The PeakAside from the record-setting Integra Type S, Acura also deployed an MDX Type S as the official pace car at Pikes Peak. It was driven by two-time U.S. Olympian and Team USA bobsled pilot Kaysha Love, alongside Hunter Powell, a fellow Team USA bobsledder and Love's fiancé.This year marks the 16th Pikes Peak appearance for Acura, Honda's luxury and performance division, which has earned 12 first-place class finishes, more than 30 podium results, and multiple course records.AcuraView the 4 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jun 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
+77 others
