Last night’s unveiling of the new Integra in L.A. wasn’t a surprise, given the number of teasers released by Acura over the last few weeks. There was a general consensus it would be a four-door hatchback of some ilk, and would very likely share many parts with other members of the House of Honda.
The 2023 Integra (technically a prototype but we all know that 99.9 percent of this vehicle will make production) did indeed appear as a four-door hatch – thankfully not as a tall-riding crossover – complete with a turbocharged engine and manual transmission. This didn’t stop keyboard warriors bleating from the depth of their parent’s basement that “ThIs Iz NoT a ReEl AcUrA” thanks to the 2023’s abundance of doors compared to the 3rd-gen coupe everyone remembers.
Here’s a newsflash for all those nimrods: The Integra has always been available with four doors.
Sure, most of us fondly remember the 3rd-gen Type R, a machine that sells for exorbitant sums whenever one appears on Bring A Trailer. This trim represented but a small percentage of actual Integra production of course, with plenty of lesser four-door models making their way into the hands of John Q. Public. Some cars were even equipped with (gasp!) an automatic transmission! This is what last night’s naysayers conveniently forget, as they gaze back with rose-colored glasses to a time in which most of them weren’t even born; not all Integra models were the type raced by Ja Rule on his way to failing to secure a tasty ménage.
Anyway. Back to the car. The new 2023 Integra will be marketed as a premium sport compact, one which will surely be hucked as the first factory turbocharged Integra. A 6-speed manual transmission will be offered in concert with the 1.5-liter turbo mill, and pricing will start under $30,000. If you’re wondering, that Indy Yellow Pearl paint was indeed cribbed from the NSX, and boots on the ground have said Acura spox suggest that retro-esque name banner could be offered as an accessory if enough people ask for it.
Speaking of styling, Acura describes the Integra’s roofline as ‘dramatically sloping’ thanks to its hatchback design. We will note the strong character line on the side of the car, one which dips aggressively toward the front wheels once it reaches the front fender. This could be part of the reason why the Integra looks a bit taller than it actually is from some angles, particularly in full side view with no other vehicles nearby as reference tools. We’ll reserve final judgment until we see it in person.
No official power numbers were given, but it’s safe to assume there will be at least 200 horses under the hood since it shares bones with the new Civic Si. Torque should be in the same neighborhood as well. Look for a similar suspension setup as in the sporty little Honda such as fixed-rate dampers and brakes which outperform a standard Civic. Your author is also of the opinion that Acura will introduce a Type S variant within the next couple of years. Will it show up alongside the next Civic Type R and pack over 300 horsepower? We’ll have to wait and see,
The launch of the 2023 Acura Integra will mark the first time for Integra to be built in America when it begins mass production next year at the Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio. Set to be built on the same production line as the Acura TLX, Integra will join all-new Acura models sold in the U.S. in being built in Ohio.
No, it isn’t a coupe; get over it. We look forward to jumping behind the wheel next year.
[Images: Acura]
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