Acura, Honda’s upmarket sister brand in the US, has offered a first glimpse at the reborn Integra. It’s due to go on sale in the States in 2023, where it’ll have a starting price of around $30,000 (roughly £22,000).
We haven’t seen the Integra badge since 2006, when it was fixed to the rump of the fourth- generation coupe that was never officially sold in the UK.
Until now, the nameplate has been primarily associated with the iconic DC1 and DC2 models of the 1990s, which found fame in the early days of The Fast and the Furious movie franchise.
This fifth-generation model will be a stark change for the Integra nameplate, with the new car moving away from its coupe roots and morphing into a five-door fastback.
Honda says the new Integra will be aimed squarely at driving enthusiasts. It’ll be available with a six-speed manual gearbox, a limited-slip differential and a “high-output” 1.5-litre VTEC engine. It’ll also be the first model in the Integra lineage to feature a turbocharger.
Honda hasn’t yet confirmed the new Integra’s performance specifications, though, because the model you see pictured here is still being referred to by the brand as a “Prototype.”
We expect the Integra will be based on the same platform as the new Honda Civic, which was revealed earlier this year. That means its turbocharged 1.5-litre engine could easily be the same 201bhp unit found in the recently announced US-market Honda Civic Si.
Being based on the Civic is no bad thing, though, as it means Acura could soon launch a Type R variant, using the running gear from Honda’s hot hatch. Honda has confirmed that a Type R version of the new Civic is coming, so the road is already paved for a hotter Integra.
And while the new Integra’s 1.5-litre engine may sound a little underwhelming in comparison to the screaming 2.0-litre units of the past, there’s no denying it certainly looks the part. That yellow paint, for example, is a homage to the Phoenix Yellow paint that was available on the 2000–2001 Integra Type R.
The “Prototype” features 19-inch alloy wheels, a lairy “Integra” decal for the doors and enormous Brembo brakes. Its design is also a departure from the angular lines seen on Hondas of late, and more in tune with Acura’s swoopy styling language.
The car’s surfacing is neat and smooth, with minimal sharp creases, a distinctive LED tail light signature and a lip spoiler for the boot. The Integra badge has also been carved into the rear bumper, while the front end features a unique LED daytime running light signature and a pentagonal radiator grille design.
We’re struggling to see any resemblance to the previous-generation Integra, but Honda’s styling department has a habit of moving designs forward rather than echoing its older cars. We expect this will also be how the finished car will look, despite the “Prototype” suffix.
As yet, it’s unknown whether the next-generation Integra will be available to UK customers but, if it makes the leap across the pond, it will be badged as a Honda.
However, it’s starting to look doubtful, because Acura has confirmed that the Integra will be the first model in the car’s 36-year history to be built in the United States. It’ll be assembled at the firm’s Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, alongside the recently replaced Acura TLX, which is only available as a left-hand drive car.
Now click here to read all the latest news on the upcoming Honda Civic Type R…
Keyword: New 2023 Acura Integra revealed with VTEC power and manual gearbox