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Acura's compact coupe is making a comeback -- for real this time.
After Acura unveiled the new NSX Type S during Monterey Car Week on Thursday, the company had one more big bit of news to share. By way of an elaborate drone show, Acura confirmed the Integra -- yes, the Integra -- will return in 2022.
No, I'm not pranking you. The Integra is coming back, and I'm stoked. The drones first showed the original 1986 Integra's shape -- complete with pop-up headlights -- before morphing into the new model's sleek silhouette. The name Integra was prominently displayed with flashing and moving lights, before the number "2022" also lit up in the sky. And then the crowd cheered, obviously.
No one at Acura's NSX Type S reveal was privy to the Integra announcement, which made it even more impressive. There have been rumors for years about the Integra's return, but they never seemed to gain traction. As the NSX is ending production in 2022 with the Type S, it makes sense that Acura would want a new iconic nameplate to carry its performance car torch.
After the drone presentation was over Acura presented a teaser image on screen, showing the new Integra's headlight. The LED light looks very similar to that of the TLX, and the name Integra is embossed in the bodywork underneath the light. You can also see a complex grille and a hood with aggressive surfacing. My best guess is that the new Integra will share a platform with the 2022 Honda Civic, taking the form of a two-door coupe with a turbocharged engine and (hopefully) a manual transmission. Expect Acura to get a version of the Integra that shares its powertrain with the next-gen Civic Type R, too, under the guise of an Integra Type S.
During the announcement, Acura's vice president and brand officer Jon Ikeda said the 2022 Integra will retain the "fun-to-drive spirit and DNA" of the original Integra, and given Honda's recent success with performance cars, I'm optimistic that the reborn Integra will live up to the name.
The Acura Integra Is Coming Back and “Will Live Up to the Hype”
Acura is caving into calls to bring back the iconic Integra.
Acura is tired of being asked when it will bring back the Integra sport compact, which hasn't been sold here since 2001. The answer, announced during Monterey Car Week and the festivities leading up to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance: The Acura Integra, one of the two cars that helped launch the Acura brand back in 1986, is making a huge comeback in 2022.Honda's luxury brand used drones to break the news in the night sky over Pebble Beach. The lights of the drone depicted what appears to be a compact 2-door hatch, though with its boxy profile and pop-up headlights, we think this was more of a stylized homage to the original '80s Integra 2-door (a 4-door was also offered during the Integra's near-20-year run).
A teaser image released later (pictured at the top of this story) shows a more modern Acura visage with pointy headlights and the brand's signature pentagonal grille. We particularly dig the '90s-retro "INTEGRA" lettering debossed in the bumper cover just beneath the headlight—it's a sweet touch.
MotorTrend tried to get more information from Acura brand officer Jon Ikeda, who was the one who confirmed that the automaker is tired of people asking for the Integra's return and elaborated on how it decided to make the new Integra happen.
The Acura Integra's Return Has Been in Works for 6Years
Actually, the decision to bring the Integra was made about 6 years ago, Ikeda confesses. He would not say what platform it uses, where it will be built, or much other detail. But it is expected to be electrified to some extent—that is the future of Acura. It will likely be a hybrid as opposed to a pure EV. And it will be fun to drive, which would be appropriate, given the Integra's historical DNA.
Oh, and while the original Integra was not all-wheel drive—it was instead a very smart-handling front-driver—we expect the 2022 Integra to be AWD. We assume that, like previous Integras, the new 1 will be a compact, sporty vehicle; possibly it will be a coupe, though we're purely speculating at this point.
The right time to bring it back is now, Ikeda says, as Acura works to return to its roots as a performance brand and has been expanding its Type S offerings (TLX, MDX, and now the NSX). And there will be a hole in the halo category with the 2022 NSX Type S capping the current NSX sports car's run as the brand's performance north star. After the Type S, no more NSX.
It's Gonna Be Good
Brand aficionados specifically and car enthusiasts generally remember Integra and there are good feelings behind it, Ikeda says. The new Integra should bring people into the brand, both new customers, and the nostalgic. "It will live up to the hype," Ikeda notes.
The new Integra is not a replacement for the discontinued Acura ILX compact sedan, the brand chief says. But it is an addition to the existing lineup that does seem to fill the segment gap with a much more exciting entrant.
So what will power the Integra? I highly doubt they have any new powertrains up their sleeves, so most likely a 2.0t paired to a 6speed manual or 10speed auto. Here's to hoping they don't drop the ball like the TLX and make it the heaviest in its class.
Probably a variant of the Civic Si, if I had to guess, maybe with a GSR or Type R using the CTR kit?
What I would love to see:
Base Integra: 1.5T from the Si mated to the 8DCT or 6MT
GSR Integra: 2.0T from the TLX/RDX mated to the 10AT or 6MT
Type R Integra: 2.0T from the CTR mated to the 6MT
What I think we'll see:
Base Integra: 1.5T from the Si mated to the 8DCT
Type S Integra: 2.0T from the TLX/RDX mated to the 10AT.
What wouldn't surprise me becuase Acura can sometimes be a dumbass:
Base Integra: 1.5T from the Si mated to the CVT
Type S Integra: 2.0T from the TLX/RDX mated to the 10AT.
So what will power the Integra? I highly doubt they have any new powertrains up their sleeves, so most likely a 2.0t paired to a 6speed manual or 10speed auto. Here's to hoping they don't drop the ball like the TLX and make it the heaviest in its class.
Oh don't worry. Acura will not fail to under-impress and give it something weak with a 0-60 time somewhere in the range of 7 seconds.
Oh don't worry. Acura will not fail to under-impress and give it something weak with a 0-60 time somewhere in the range of 7 seconds.
Don't forget, it'll be Civic sized on the outside but Fit sized on the inside . (actually the Fit is pretty well packaged inside so maybe that's not a very apt insult).
Overall, it's an interesting move, as IIRC Honda dropped the Civic coupe for the new gen?
Bringing a new coupe to market, in the era with everyone moving to CUV/SUV production is a bit of a bold move.
I really hope they offer a manual transmission. Currently none of their offerings have an MT available, correct? It worries me like how Audi does not offer a manual transmission anymore. And how Acura should have offered one in the TLX Type-S.
Even though I'm not in the market for a coupe, this intrigues me.
Anyone notice how after showing the "1986" and the old Integra silhouette, the wheel wells shifted towards the front of the car for the redesigned Integra (while keeping most of the classic silhouette)?
Anyone notice how after showing the "1986" and the old Integra silhouette, the wheel wells shifted towards the front of the car for the redesigned Integra (while keeping most of the classic silhouette)?
No, the only thing I noticed was the pop up headlights (on the 1G) going up at 3:30 in the video
No, the only thing I noticed was the pop up headlights (on the 1G) going up at 3:30 in the video
Those same pop up headlights disappeared as the wheel wells shifted towards the front of the car, representing how the new Integra will look.
It's worth another watch to see what I'm talking about (it's easier to watch the video in Full Screen as I did to see how the shape of the Integra changes to the new one).
Have they said anything about a GSR or ITR? I'd honestly be pretty interested in an Acura version of the CTR...though the next gen CTR is supposed to look a lot better.
Way too much of a CR-Z feel in those renders. No thanks.
Before I even read your post, I had this awful suspicion that the Integra would be the second coming of the CR-Z. Granted, my dealer previously indicated that this would be an A3 type entry, which would be compelling particularly if it emulates the A3 Sportback.
08-13-2021, 07:17 AM
MotorTrend
Hoping for a hit.
. (actually the Fit is pretty well packaged inside so maybe that's not a very apt insult).
