Acura Integra 2023: reborn sporty Honda to be five-door fastback

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Acura has launched a teaser photo of the next Integra, and to the shock of many, it’s no longer a two-door sports coupe. 

Instead, by the looks of things the new Acura Integra will be a five door which will feature a swept back, ‘Fastback’ design.

Acura says that the five door design harks back to the first generation Integra which was also available as a two door. 

The Integras of the later 1990s and the 2000s were all two-door cars, though the most recent Integra DC5 of 2001-2006 had a large hatchback, much like the reborn iteration.

Honda’s reborn Integra is likely to compete with cars such as the Mercedes CLA-Class as well as the Audi A3 and the BMW 2 Series. 

The Integra will potentially use the same underpinnings as the current Honda Civic, so we can only hope that the Type R’s turbocharged 2.0-litre VTEC engine finds its way under the bonnet of the new Integra at some point down the line. 

There is also a chance that the new Integra could look something like the TLX Type S, an all-wheel drive sports sedan also produced by Acura. The TLX is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 which makes 265kW of power and 480Nm of torque. 

The Type S name has been used on an Integra before, so it would be great to see the car go back to its sporting roots. 

A brief recap of the Acura/Honda Integra 

The first generation of the Integra debuted in 1985, with the five-door liftback version actually badged as the Rover 416i in Australia. 

The second generation Integra was unveiled in 1989 and featured the first version of Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing system. The higher lobe profile would engage at 5,500 rpm with the redline arriving at 8,200rpm for the B16A engine. 

The VTEC system would go on to be the inspiration for many other cam-lift designs such as Toyota’s VVT system and BMW’s Vanos system (most manufacturers have adopted a variation of the system in a bid to improve engine efficiency). 

Third generation Integras debuted in 1993. This was the first time the Integra would carry the Type R name as a high performance alternative to the regular offerings. 

Equipped with a limited-slip differential, five-speed manual gearbox and a tuned VTEC B18C engine with 147kW, the Type R was a serious driving machine. 

CAR Magazine described the DC2 Integra Type R as “possibly the best front driver of all” back in 1998 and is respected among motoring press as one of the greatest cars of all time.

A four-wheel drive Integra was also built in this generation’s lifespan, which was only available in the four-door sedan model. 

The DC5 fourth generation was introduced in Japan in 2001 and brought with it the K-Series engine. The Type R made its final appearance, featuring a 2.0-litre, 164kW i-VTEC engine, Recaro seats and stiffer suspension.