The Acura Integra is Back For 2022

[Maxx Mazda]

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A couple pics I took during my spring 98 visit to Acura of Edmonton. They had 8 Type Rs on the lot that day. I test drove one and almost bought.

Blast from the past! + rep for you!

[Kloubek]

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I don't remember the 1st gen being popular in the enthusiast crowd at all though. That was the early days of Acura when they were trying to market the upscale-ness of their brand, more than the sporty aspects (this was pre-NSX).

The 1st gen actually sold better than the 2nd gen, oddly enough - although I agree, they were not a hit with the enthusiast crowd like the 2nd gen was. I think you're right: Back then they were considered more of a entry-level luxury commuting vehicle with a bit of sportiness, as opposed to the 2nd gen which really honed in on the sporty side.

But since that is the last model people remember, I think Honda could have played that up a bit and followed it up with a model that used today's technology to recapture the essence of what that 2nd gen was all about. Instead, it looks like they decided to release yet another awkward looking vehicle which doesn't seem to move the needle whatsoever in any respect at all, for what appears to be an unnecessary premium. They haven't recaptured the 2nd gen Integra at all, but more of the 1st gen which will end up being slower than the civic, a little sharper looking, but essentially costing more to move "up" into the Acura brand which imo has never achieved their goal of being viewed as an actual premium brand.

I expect this car to flop hard. The only thing it seems to have going for it is the Integra name, which shall be forever desecrated.

[Inzane]

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Blast from the past! + rep for you!

Thanks!

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But since that is the last model people remember, I think Honda could have played that up a bit and followed it up with a model that used today's technology to recapture the essence of what that 2nd gen was all about.

I'm a little confused by this statement. Are you calling a 3rd gen a 2nd gen here by mistake, or are you actually saying the 2nd gen is the version of Integra that is remembered most? That doesn't really make sense to me. The 3rd gen spanned 94-01 and included the infamous Type-R. I'm not sure how the 2nd gen eclipses that at all.

[rage2]

My first car was a 1st gen, and ya it’s a commuter car. Really nothing sporty about it. 2nd gen brought some power with the GSR and a wee bit better handling, but still left a lot to be desired in the handling department. 3rd gen was magic, much improved torque with the gsr, understeer mostly dialed out. The type r was even more raw, spectacular turn in and even oversteer on demand. Just an amazing car. 4th gen RSX is kind of funny, people didn’t like it because it was too soft, but I felt it was perfect. It had the handling and power of the 3rd gen type r, but the suspension was more compliant so it wasn’t punishing as a DD. Vtec engagement was smoothened out so it had more power under the curve but it didn’t give you the vtec kick like in the older cars.

This new Integra to me is like the old Acura EL. Slightly upscale civic. Doesn’t conjure up any of the personality traits of any of the old Integras.

[Inzane]

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This new Integra to me is like the old Acura EL. Slightly upscale civic. Doesn’t conjure up any of the personality traits of any of the old Integras.

I think you nailed it. But, we'll have to drive one to know for sure how it feels. I'm not holding my breath.

[Tik-Tok]

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Stripper LT1 Camaro for $43k. Is it a good comparison for 450hp?

Not comparable. Two different cars with different markets. American muscle has always been better HP/TQ value, if that's all your looking for. They were the same price as a civic in '96 as well.

[jutes]

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Not comparable. Two different cars with different markets. American muscle has always been better HP/TQ value, if that's all your looking for. They were the same price as a civic in '96 as well.

So do you compare it to a BRZ? Or is it strictly FWD platforms. I don't even know what's available, does dodge still make the SRT Neon?

[heavyD]

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I think the better comparison is how it’s peers are priced. What else does $45k get you these days?

Hyundai Elantra N is $41k fully equipped and will blow the doors off this car. VW GTI Performance trim is $42k. This new Integra is pretty poor value for what it is.

[Inzane]

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Hyundai Elantra N is $41k fully equipped and will blow the doors off this car. VW GTI Performance trim is $42k. This new Integra is pretty poor value for what it is.

Maybe I haven't been paying enough attention to Hyundai lately but the thought of an Elantra "blowing the doors off" anything is hilarious to me. Maybe they've come a long way since I've rented one in the past on trips.

[bjstare]

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Maybe I haven't been paying enough attention to Hyundai lately but the thought of an Elantra "blowing the doors off" anything is hilarious to me. Maybe they've come a long way since I've rented one in the past on trips.

That's like saying you rented a 320i, and you can't imagine an M340i blowing the doors off anything. Apparently the Hyundai N cars are legit.

[killramos]

Doesn’t the former head of M ( from when BMW’s were still good ) run the N program?

[heavyD]

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Maybe I haven't been paying enough attention to Hyundai lately but the thought of an Elantra "blowing the doors off" anything is hilarious to me. Maybe they've come a long way since I've rented one in the past on trips.

Good comparison below as all three vehicles I brought up are represented as the Civic Si is essentially the car we are discussing as it's identical to the Integra outside of styling. Forget that the Elantra N won the comparison and focus on the performance metrics. Civic Si/Integra is downright slow.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...-gli-compared/

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Doesn’t the former head of M ( from when BMW’s were still good ) run the N program?

Yes Albert Biermann is responsible for this car and other N models but I believe he no longer is in charge of this department as he retired and more of an advisor now.

[Inzane]

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That's like saying you rented a 320i, and you can't imagine an M340i blowing the doors off anything. Apparently the Hyundai N cars are legit.

As I mentioned I haven't followed Hyundai too closely. So I didn't even realize they had made a "sporty" version of the Elantra.

[bjstare]

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As I mentioned I haven't followed Hyundai too closely. So I didn't even realize they had made a "sporty" version of the Elantra.

I wasn't trying to be cunty, that was just a response to bring you up to speed. haha

[Kloubek]

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Thanks!




I'm a little confused by this statement. Are you calling a 3rd gen a 2nd gen here by mistake, or are you actually saying the 2nd gen is the version of Integra that is remembered most? That doesn't really make sense to me. The 3rd gen spanned 94-01 and included the infamous Type-R. I'm not sure how the 2nd gen eclipses that at all.

Sorry, my lack of knowledge is showing. I actually forgot there was another gen in there, and was basically lumping the gen 1 and gen 2 into the same segment. I drove in a 1st gen before, but never really paid much attention until they came out with the 3rd gen.

[ExtraSlow]

Need to bring back the Acura Vigor.

[Kloubek]

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Need to bring back the Acura Vigor.

Not sure if you are serious. It was a good car, but nothing special. The Legend, on the other hand...

[ExtraSlow]

Cars are not a serious topic.

[heavyD]

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Not sure if you are serious. It was a good car, but nothing special. The Legend, on the other hand...

5 cylinder longitudinal engine is pretty cool. Those were the good old days before the Japanese automakers were taken over by bean counters.

[Xtrema]

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4th gen RSX is kind of funny, people didn’t like it because it was too soft, but I felt it was perfect. It had the handling and power of the 3rd gen type r, but the suspension was more compliant so it wasn’t punishing as a DD. Vtec engagement was smoothened out so it had more power under the curve but it didn’t give you the vtec kick like in the older cars.

I thought people didn't like RSX losing the wishbone front.