The Acura brand positions the Integra revival as a revival of a brand icon rather than a simple launch. There is purposeful promotion here that echoes a cherished British idea of heritage. Yet the current fifth-generation and the preceding fourth-generation Integra sit apart by a substantial technical gap, marking a notable 16-year gap in production history.
The discussion centers on ideological continuity. The model’s body has transformed from a traditional coupe or sedan into a practical five-door liftback with a spacious trunk. That choice also provides Honda with a solid, broad audience safety net.
Externally, the five-door design nods to earlier Integras, including the original model that helped launch the Acura brand. Enthusiasts will appreciate that each body element is unique to this model, without adoption of other brand platforms, keeping the car visually distinct and cost efficient.
Inside, the dashboard design shifts focus beyond the driver to include the front passenger. The front seat occupant can access a 10.2-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a wireless smartphone charger resides in the center tunnel. The standard audio system remains part of the package, with the ELS Studio 3D setup delivering 16 speakers and up to 530 watts, offering sound quality rivaling many home audio systems.
Among its innovations, Acura highlights advanced front airbags for both the driver and front passenger, designed to reduce head and neck injuries in a collision. The large lower opening in the bumper channels air to the intercooler for the turbocharger. Several sport-oriented cues are visible: air intakes and side air curtains shaping the flow around the front wheels, a front aerodynamic lower skirt, and a rear spoiler integrated into the tailgate.
The new Acura Integra marks the brand’s first turbocharged production model. Under the aluminum hood sits a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo engine producing 200 horsepower (192 Nm). Torque peaks between 1800 and 5000 rpm, enabling responsive throttle behavior and strong engine breathing at higher revs.
Honda offers a six-speed manual transmission tuned specifically for this car. It provides a short throw, a compact gear ratio, and automatic speed control. In sport mode, the manual shift response is approximately 430 milliseconds, and the rev-matching system helps optimize downshifts by responding to engine electronics when a lower gear is preferred.
With strong traction at the wheels, there was consideration of steering feel under certain configurations. To preserve handling stability in a more traditional setup, torque is distributed to the axle via a helical limited-slip differential.
There are alternative, more accessorized options for everyday drivers as well, including a standard CVT tuned for a pleasurable driving experience. In the United States, where the car premiered, the starting price is about $32,000, which translates to roughly 2.2 million rubles at current exchange rates.
Where does the legend come from?
Those aged over 40 who have a passion for gasoline memories recall classic names like Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline, and Toyota Supra. These are the so-called JDM models, shortened from Japanese Domestic Market cars, a marketing phenomenon that surged in the 1980s and reached a broader audience over time.
Typically compact front-wheel-drive coupes were common in this category, as were the occasional Japanese-made sedans and roadsters. They paired strong engine performance with light weight, a combination that gave Japanese cars a competitive edge against heavier American muscle rivals.
For decades, “JDM guns” filled megacities, energizing street racing subcultures. Over time, they moved off the streets as buyers gravitated toward more practical hot hatchbacks.
When Honda introduced the Acura brand in 1986, the U.S. market — a challenger to Lexus at the time — needed a car that would capture the attention of affluent buyers. The Integra emerged as a compact, sporty model with authentic Japanese reliability and character, helping Acura establish a foothold in a fiercely competitive market. The platform became a catalyst for a quick brand ascent, with the two-door version selling a substantial portion of initial parts volume in its early years.
Historically, the original Integra was a compact, driver-focused coupe, with a sedan arriving later as the lineup evolved.
Sunset with trump cards
The Integra coupe began as a sharper alternative to the Civic sedan and hatchback, offering more precise control and stronger engine performance aimed at enthusiastic drivers.
Even in its second generation, it showcased two overhead camshafts paired with Honda’s VTEC electronic valve actuation system, enabling about 170 horsepower from a small 1.8-liter engine without sacrificing reliability. In comparison, many contemporaries offered heavier sedans or pricier sports coupes with similar or greater power. A five-liter V8 in a Ford Mustang delivered roughly 200 horsepower in that era. The Integra’s own double wishbone independent suspension became a longstanding hallmark of the brand. To maximize power-to-weight, Honda even minimized nonessential components, such as removing the rear window brush and sun visor mirror from earlier iterations.
These efforts earned high regard from publications like The Telegraph, Motor1, Road & Track, and Car and Driver. The Integra has been recognized as a standout front-wheel-drive car, and it appeared in popular media such as the Fast and the Furious franchise, with Mia Toretto driving an Acura Integra in the first film. The model also left a mark in the Need for Speed video game series, where it remains a fan favorite in early stages of Underground.
In summary, the Integra history blends performance engineering with a heritage of compact, engaging driving dynamics. Its legacy persists through the modern revival, appealing to both longtime enthusiasts and a new generation of drivers. (Cited: The Telegraph, Motor1, Road & Track, Car and Driver, Fast and the Furious series, Need for Speed.)