Late last week found out that Acura patented Integra Type S and here’s what we know:
So, if you’re an Acura fan it’s probably been kind of a rough last 10ish years. Sure there’s an NSX, but there wasn’t much fizz available to the everyman.
HOWEVER, in the past few months Acura enthusiasts have been flying high with things like the TLX Type S that Paolo and I just tested, the last year of the NSX means it gets an extreme type s version, and now not only is Acura bringing back their little integra, but it’s also getting a type S version.
But everything is not exactly what it seems so here we’re going to break down what this patent means, what the Integra type S couple look like, and finally how it would cannibalize the Civic Type R.
So here’s the thing, Acura has always been about modern advancement and innovation, but in the modern era we’ve kind of hit a plateau in terms of innovation that enthusiasts actually give a crap about…BMW’s gesture controls serve no purpose.
What this has resulted in is Acura focusing more on their luxury than their performance, but ike I said, all that has changed over the past few months.
What we have here is, honestly, some of the most exciting news for me as a normal American. I can’t afford a NSX type s so i don’t care, Paolo and I just drove the TLX TYpe S and you can watch that for our thoughts, but the Integra is back and they’re giving us a sharpened type S version.
WRONG
As of now, the patent is only for clothing and merch…lame.
But when we think back, this is very similar to what Acura did with the TLX – merch first, vehicle patent next SOOOO stands to reason this will become a real vehicle that you can buy…even here in the US.
So, what would an Integra type S look like as it comes together?
Of course, the original integra was a 2 door coupe that was light, had great steering, and was a lot of fun.
Cars are heavier now, which means they need more torque to hide that added mass. That means turbo or turbos, we’ll come back to this.
Cars are also more expensive now which means they have to tick more boxes SUCH AS back seats, 4 doors, useable trunk space. So don’t be shocked if this shows up as a sedan or with a sedan option.
Maybe they’d do an ILX type S and leave the integra as a coupe, idk but as of now that’s not the plan.
So the way I see the integra being added is like this:
The base integra will be something like a ritzed-up Civic Si with somewhere around 210-230 hp from either the same or slightly differently mapped 2.0T that we’re familiar with.
We don’ have the 11th gen Si yet, but based on the rollout of the normal Civics it’ll be the same motor.
That leaves the Integra Type S to compete against the Civic Type R which won’t surprise anyone.
This means, more than likely the same 2.0T that’s currently making 306 hp and 295lbft.
Likely for the 11th gen it’ll be remapped to make a little bit more power in the realm of 320 or 325 hp and 305-310 lbft.
The biggest unknown is around drive wheels. In it’s four generations that have existed in the past, one has offered a 4wd set-up and honestly this is the big difference I see between this and the Type R.
The Honda Civic Type R is the lightweight, FWD simple performer.
This leaves the door open for the Integra Type S to come in with added luxury, Automatic trans, and SHAWD.
Which leads me to the biggest hot take we’ve talked about in past Type R videos…
Motor Trend talked about, months ago, a TTV6 AWD Civic Type R. Based on the rollout of the 11th gen civic so far that seems a bit out of bounds, BUT with something like an Integra Type S that is still unlikely, but is much more feasible.
A TTV6 and AWD in the Type R would really up the price and also the weight and that’s just not what the Type R brand is about.
But wearing an Acura badge that can command more money then it starts to make a little more sense.
Of course, we don’t know and this is just speculation, but the motor in question would likely be.
The same TTv6 in the TLX Type S…which is problematic for a couple reasons
1 – putting the same motor with the same tune in a smaller, lighter car would be a riot, but there’s a reason you typically dont see manufacturers put their halo motors in their entry-level models.
2 – this then doesn’t really even compete in the same space as the Type R, but jumps up more toward things like the new Nissan Z, Supra, etc. And in that arena 355 hp doesn’t really compete.
But on the other side, there are some benefits to this idea.
The main benefit is that, aside from packaging and design, the heavy lifting is already done.
It would be the same chassis architecture, the same motor, same gearbox, and same drivetrain as the TLX Type S.
AND since it would potentially only have 2 doors then it wouldn’t really cannibalize any sales from the TLX type S.
This is the way I’d prefer to see it go because the TLX Type S we just drove was a great car, but it was about 300 lbs too heavy.
Same power and driveline in something with a shorter wheelbase, with 3-500 lbs taken out would be a phenomenal car.
Good enough to take on Supra and Z? Idk we’ll have to wait and see, but I want to pose the question to you.
Option 1: 2 liter Type R competitor with a slightly more aggressive tune and SHAWD and an auto.
Option 2: full fledged mini TLX Type S.