The 2023 Integra has principally did not create the stir from long-time fans that Acura had hoped it will. Nevertheless, all isn’t misplaced; Acura might maybe regain some road cred in the event that they took the Integra racing, like they did with the Integras of the 80s and 90s. Model head Jon Ikeda desires to take the ‘Teg to the monitor, nevertheless it all is determined by whether or not the management on the American Honda mothership permits it.
“We wish to race this factor, however possibly the Honda PR and advertising and marketing guys may need completely different concepts,” Ikeda informed Highway & Observe. That is as a result of the Integra is essentially a 2022 Civic Si with a hatchback kind issue and new sheetmetal. Honda already sells a Civic Kind R race automotive in a number of tunes for numerous lessons within the TC America touring automotive collection. That was based mostly on previous-generation Civic, however in all chance will proceed this system with the newest gen. A racing Integra, then, would appear redundant.
Alternatively, Acura has been extremely energetic in motorsports, from 24 Hours of Daytona-winning IMSA DPi prototypes to NSX GT3 race vehicles to Pikes Peak hill-climbers. Even Honda’s F1 vehicles have been re-branded with Acura livery ultimately month’s U.S. Grand Prix in Austin.
And it isn’t just like the Integra would not have an extended historical past in motorsports. The nameplate as competed in numerous North American collection from SCCA Professional Rally to IMSA sedan to the Import Drag Racing Championships. Maybe essentially the most well-known Acura Integras to race, although, have been Peter Cunningham’s white and neon orange RealTime Racing Kind Rs that dominated the SpeedVision World Problem championships round Y2K.
Ikeda has mentioned earlier than that he desires Acura to be the efficiency model of Honda, and a rumored Integra Kind S is within the works with a stronger engine, presumably a model of the upcoming Civic Kind R’s mill. “We are the efficiency division of Honda,” Ikeda emphasised to R&T, “So we’re not going to draw back from Honda, ? We’ll simply have a little bit bit extra enjoyable.”
Whereas an admirable purpose, the model will wrestle if it is merely the efficiency arm of Honda. It must be about efficiency vehicles, interval. That was a part of Acura’s magic within the 90s; it supplied merchandise that, whereas sharing parts with Honda, have been distinct and had their very own personalities. The Integra was Civic-based, nevertheless it had noticeably higher dealing with, extra energy, and distinctive design. With the NSX driving off into the sundown quickly the Integra will likely be requested to hold a heavy load, but when Acura can discover a approach to ship the Integra into battle with out stepping on the Civic’s toes, possibly it has a shot.
