Acura Integra Type S Revealed: A Performance Sport Sedan for the Mature

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

If the Honda Civic Type R strikes your fancy mechanically but its looks are a bit too juvenile for your aesthetic, enter the Acura Integra Type S.


The Integra Type S is mechanically similar to the Honda, but it avoids styling details like a large wing. It does, though, have a hood scoop and unique front fascia -- and of course, the Integra's styling is divisive on its own.

Similar doesn't mean same, and the Integra Type S rings five more horsepower out of its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder to make 320. Torque is the same at 310 lb-ft.

That power gets to the ground via a six-speed manual transmission that has rev-matching, and the car has a limited-slip differential.

Out back, the high-flow exhaust exits the car via three pipes located in a unique rear fascia. "Integra" is stamped on both fascias.

What goes fast must eventually stop and Acura has equipped the Integra Type S with four-piston Brembo brakes -- the front rotors get cooled via functional air ducts.

Acura has widened this car by 2.8 inches compared to a standard Integra, and it has 19-inch wheels and summer rubber. Both the front and rear tracks are widened compared to the standard car -- 3.5 inches up front, and 1.9 inches in the rear. The front stabilizer bar is thickened by 2 mm, and torque steer is reduced via a dual-axis front suspension and the suspension comes standard with adaptive damping.

The Type S has several drive modes, including Sport and Sport+, with that last one offering up what Acura calls "pops and bangs" from the exhaust.

Inside, the car gets suede seat inserts and firmer bolstering, and a suede shift boot. There are also special logos marking the car as a Type S -- your three passengers will not mistake the Type S for anything else. Yes, three -- the car has only four seating positions.

Comfort features will include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, premium audio, digital gauges, and a head-up display.

Not that most of you care about safety on a performance car, but it does come standard with the AcuraWatch suite of advanced driver-assist systems.

Oh, and if you miss the wing -- Acura will happily sell you a carbon-fiber lip spoiler as an accessory.

The Acura Integra Type S goes on sale in June.

[Images: Acura]

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Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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2 of 33 comments
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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