2024 Acura Integra Type S Debuts with A 320 HP Civic Type-R Heart

The Honda/Acura Integra is one of JDM’s most iconic nameplates to ever grace the automotive world, famed for its lightweight and sheer handling performance. The automaker revived the Integra for its fifth-gen redux, in the form of a five-door liftback derived from its ‘low-market’ twin and yet another iconic JDM nameplate, the Honda Civic.

And just like the Civic, the fifth-gen Integra now gets its own performance-oriented variant, in the form of the 2024 Acura Integra Type S. Beyond the suburban-ruling saloons, this tuned-up version is jam-packed with a slew of performance upgrades and equipment, including a high-revving heart straight out of Honda’s Type-R program.

Powering the Integra Type S is a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cyl mill derived from the Honda Civic Type-R FL5, delivering 320 HP and 420 NM to boot – making it the most powerful Integra model ever made. Similar to the Type-R, the Integra is only available with a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching function for quicker and more accurate shifting performance.

In-charge of stopping this 320 HP monster are four-piston Brembo monobloc callipers with functional air ducts located at the lower front bumper to channel cool air to them. Elsewhere, the Type S model also sports an adaptive damper system with Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes. The front stabiliser bar is now 2 MM thicker than the standard Integra.

Visually, the Integra Type S features a sportier and wider stance, thanks to the widened fenders. At the front, the Type S sports a sporty front bumper design with bigger front air intake including the air ducts for brake cooling, as well as the scooped-out aluminium hood, giving it a more aggressive look compared to the bare-boned versions.

From the side, the Type S model rides on a set of 19-inch wheels with 10-spoke design, finished in Shark Gray. There’s also an option to swap these wheels for copper-finished ones, which are 0.9 KG lighter than the standard wheels.

At the rear, the Type S did not veer that far from the standard model, apart from the addition of rear diffuser and the centre-mounted triple exhaust tips a la Civic Type-R. And just like the copper wheels, there’s also an option to add carbon fibre lip spoiler and mirror caps, which makes the Type S look more ‘at home’, we opined.

Inside, the Integra Type S comes standard with bucket-like front seats with improved bolstering, wrapped in perforated suede material to enable the heating function. Drivers will get a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display (HUD), as well as a Type S-specific sporty steering wheel with red stitching. The manual gear knob design is said to be inspired from the original Integra Type-R model, carved out of titanium.

At the front dash, it’s primed with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other tech amenities included are the wireless charging pad, 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D sound system, as well as the updated AcuraWatch safety suite – making this performance-oriented model an ideal daily driver.

The 2023 Acura Integra Type S will come in seven colour options, including the Type S-special Tiger Eye Pearl, alongside up to three interior colour options. As for now, Acura has yet to unveil the official price tag for the Integra Type S. But we’d expect it to be around the same ballpark as the Honda Civic Type-R FL5’s US-market MSRP of $43,295 (RM190,346).