Honda Integra Reborn as ICE Type R or Luxury BEV?

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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13th August 2021

Honda will be bringing back the famed Integra nameplate but will it be a last hurrah with a Type R road burning ICE powertrain or an all-electric BEV?

The car, to be marketed under Honda’s premium Acura badge in the US sometime in 2022, could go either way. Its forebears from 1986 to 2006 were worthy sports coupés taking on the hot-hatch brigade while offering style and a separate trunk.

Most car enthusiasts will immediately yearn for a hot Type R offering light chassis weight using a super-efficient ICE powertrain or even a hybrid at a pinch. BEV would bring with it too much weight to be seen as a hot-hatch competitor. Alternatively the car could to be aimed up-market at the Polestar or Tesla luxury grand tourer market.

However, this latter concept would draw the car away from its traditional consumer by having to attract a super-premium price tag. This while markets, such as the US, are adopting a snail-like uptake of all-electric powertrains whose limitations in range and infrastructure threaten near-term sales success.

Nonetheless, many at the Monterey Car Week remain excited at the prospect of a new Integra, not least Jon Ikeda vice-president and Acura brand officer, who said: “I’m thrilled to say Integra is returning to the Acura lineup with the same fun-to-drive spirit and DNA of the original, fulfilling our commitment to Precision Crafted Performance in every way – design, performance and the overall driving experience.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_