Racing fans were treated to an unusual sight at the recent running of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona: a pace car in camouflage.
Automakers wouldn’t normally agree to send out a prototype on national television with its appearance still under wraps. But this one announced big news for a generation that grew up dreaming of an affordable performance car — an Acura Integra Type S is coming for the 2024 model year.
What’s an Integra Type S, and why does it have some car enthusiasts feeling nostalgic and simultaneously excited about the future?
A Callback to a Legend
2022 was a year full of bad news for car shoppers, but Acura provided one of the few feel-good storylines of the year when it resurrected its most famous nameplate.
The original Acura Integra, built from 1986 to 2001, introduced a generation of car lovers to the idea of an affordable, everyday-livable performance car. A sporty compact luxury car built on the same architecture as the Honda Civic, it made the Acura name famous in the U.S.
It boasted an affordable price for a luxury car, one of the earliest Honda VTEC engines, and a functional 5-door body style. That combination made it both a reliable commuter car and a fun weekend corner-carver. Its price put it in reach of millions.
In 2022, Acura brought it back.
A Suitable Heir to That Reputation
The 2023 Acura Integra fulfills every piece of that same promise. It rides, once again, on Civic bones. But engineers tuned its steering and suspension for performance and filled its cabin with luxury-level soft-touch surfaces.
An A-Spec edition adds an adaptive suspension and a cool factor thanks to stainless steel pedals and contrast-color upholstery stitching. An available 6-speed manual transmission makes it a genuine driver’s car, and a Technology Package adds luxuries like a 16-speaker ELS studio sound system.
But the Legend Had Another Level
In 1997, Acura introduced a more performance-oriented Integra, the Type R. It was still easy to live with as a family car. But it came with a more powerful engine and weight savings to make it even quicker.
The company has since changed the name of its high-performance models — they’re now called Type S. But it has a long history of fun-to-drive high-performance editions at reasonable prices.
For 2024, that treatment comes to the Integra.
What We Know About the 2024 Integra Type S
Acura is keeping details about the 2024 Integra Type S, like its body at Daytona, under wraps.
But the company has revealed that it will feature “a high-revving 2.0-liter VTEC turbocharged engine producing over 300 horsepower and paired exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission and limited slip differential.”
The camouflage wrap used on the Daytona pace car revealed a few other details, like new air vents under the headlights, flared rocker panels for improved aerodynamics, and three center-mounted pipes peeking out under a reshaped rear bumper.
The prototype rode on Michelin Sport Pilot 4S tires — a hint that the Type S may be significantly grippier than the standard Integra. And it sounded glorious, with a well-tuned exhaust note that would be a joy to control with your right foot.
More To Come This Summer
Acura will share more details “closer to its launch this summer,” the company says. If you’re tempted by the Integra but not sure its 200 horsepower, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will give you the performance you want, stay tuned. The Type S may be worth your wait.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Acura Integra models for sale near you.
