Endurance racer Tom Blomqvist and the most successful Formula 1 racing driver from Mexico have recently been treated to a day at the track with the all-new Integra Type S. Given that both are on Honda's payroll, you shouldn't be surprised that Sergio Perez and Blomqvist had only words of praise for the Civic Type R's fancier and way more expensive sibling.
Pictured at Complexe ICAR in Canada, the race winners are given the keys to white- and blue-painted cars. Both of them are manual by default, whether you like it or not, because Honda couldn't be bothered with developing a two-pedal transmission for the Civic Type R and Integra Type S. To be frank, a dual-clutch box like that in the ILX would have defeated the purpose of a sporty compact. On the other hand, heavy traffic in a manual vehicle would drive anyone crazy.
Regarding the matter of pricing, can you believe that Acura wants $50,800 (not including the destination freight charge) right off the bat? Criticism aside, you do get quite a bit of stuff as standard, including 19-inch lightweight alloys in Shark Gray. High-performance tires and Brembo calipers up front also need to be mentioned, along with LED exterior lights.
Before going any further, bear in mind that Honda's equivalent costs $43,795 from the outset. A five-door hatchback just like the Civic Type R, the Integra Type S sweetens the deal with heated mirrors, welcome lights, keyless access, push-button ignition, a frameless and automatic-dimming rearview mirror, smart entry with Walk Away Auto Lock for both the front doors and liftgate, plus dual-zone automatic climate control.
The list continues with heated front seats, split-folding rear seats, 12-way power adjustments with power lumbar support for the driver's seat, LED ambient lighting for the interior, perforated leather on the steering wheel, and Ultrasuede upholstery in combination with accent stitching. Kudos to Acura for making the interior feel both sporty and premium at the same time. Even so, it's hard to escape the fact that it's a Civic in a nice suit. From the infotainment system's touchscreen display to the design of the center console and instrument binnacle, a lot of things connect it to the Civic.
The front-driven hatchback is a little more powerful than its brother, though, with Acura quoting 320 horsepower at 6,500 revolutions per minute and 310 pound-feet (420 Nm) from 2,600 to 4,000 revolutions per minute. That's 5 more ponies than the Civic Type R and the same torque rating at similar engine speeds. Rather than 0-60 acceleration and top speed, this car was designed to entertain the driver in the twisties.
The helical-type front limited-slip differential makes a world of difference in a front-wheel-drive vehicle while cornering. The Type S further boasts adaptive dampers and dual-axis front suspension. Better still, segment-leading cargo space and rear legroom make the Integra Type S a practical car. The question is, can you imagine spending this much money on a compact with underpinnings from the Civic?
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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