Introduced for the 2024 model year, the Integra Type S isn't exactly affordable. $50,800 before options and fees is a helluva lot for a sporty compact liftback with premium ambitions. It also happens to be way too much compared to its Honda-branded sibling, the Civic Type R, which retails at $43,795.
It's also hard to imagine who is willing to spend over 50 grand on a front-wheel-drive compact. Think of what else you could buy for that kind of moolah, including a previous-generation Boxster with the six-cylinder boxer. Lower down the spectrum, why not a Mustang?
Speaking of which, the Fast Lane owns a 2014 model year Ford Mustang GT with quite a few miles on the clock. TFL's latest upload pits the aforementioned Integra Type S against the decade-old pony car, and – exactly as expected – the V8 bruiser asserts dominance over the Integra Type S.
Roman Mica and Tommy Mica kick things off with a good ol' dig race to the quarter mile, which concludes in 15.79 seconds for the Acura. The 'Stang clocked 14.75 seconds, which isn't shabby for such an old car. Bear in mind this is one mile above sea level as well, and naturally-aspirated engines are more sensible to elevation gain than turbocharged mills like the K20C1.
Garrett Motion estimates a loss in power of three percent for every 1,000 feet (454 meters) for a NA engine. Also remember that a Coyote from 2014 doesn't make all the ponies it used to back then. Its automatic is a bit meh compared to the current 10R, and very meh compared to the Acura's stick shift.
The 'Stang also makes easy work of the Integra from a rolling start, pulling and pulling without breaking a sweat despite the elevation. Pictured in Colorado, the cars were also put through an emergency braking test from 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour).
Not surprising in the least, the Mustang lost this one, taking 129 feet (39.3 meters) to come to a halt. This disappointing result is also attributed to the all-season tires of the Ford, which aren't good as good as summer tires in emergency braking situations in the dry. The Integra Type S dons Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires from the factory. Being approximately 400 pounds (181 kilograms) lighter than the pony car, the Integra Type S needs merely 109 feet (33.2 meters) to stop.
Expensive though it may be, the ITS may be the last hurrah of the sporty ICE compact as far as Acura is concerned. Acura expects more than 50 percent of sales to be EVs by 2030. That's a rather ambitious target, more so if you remember that Acura's first production EV is based on GM underpinnings.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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