The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is not the Type R that you remember from 1999. However, this more luxurious version of the quickest new Civic is probably the car that 1999’s Type R buyer actually wants to drive today.
Quite a few enthusiasts were disappointed when Acura revealed the return of the Integra back in 2021. Because most of those people were expecting the quickest, sharpest, most aggressive past trims of the model and were forgetting that most copies of the original Integra generations were the base LS and GS spec.
For those who were disappointed? Those who only remember the hottest Integra? Good news. The quicker, sharper Integra of your youth is back and it is hotter than ever.
320-Horsepower Turbo-Four
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S starts with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder. Yes, it is the same engine as the Honda Civic Type R, but it does make 5 horsepower more for a total of 320 ponies.
Credit for the extra power goes to the Integra’s exhaust system. It’s a high-flow and high-noise system. Acura says it is less restrictive than the Honda’s, but it is also tuned to give the car an exhaust sound specific to the Type S.
If the standard sound isn’t enough, Acura will make it louder. A standard active exhaust valve opens up to give the car a more distinctive note in each drive mode. Turn it to Sport+ and the ITS goes into full annoy-the-neighbors mode with a series of snaps, pops, and bangs.
ITS? Sure. The classic DC2 (Acura’s chassis code for the ’94-’01 version) Integra Type R is called the ITR, so it’s only fair that this one is the ITS. The question is whether or not it will become an icon in the same way.
The Integra Type S certainly has the specs to become an icon. Like the 310 pound-feet of torque that comes with the 320 horsepower. That’s a whopping 118 pound-feet more than the A-Spec model’s 1.5.
Forget that, it’s nearly two and a half times more torque than the original Integra Type R could manage. The modern car isn’t as much heavier as you think, either, having put on around 600 pounds to bring the figure to 3,219. Who hasn’t put on some weight in the last 20 years?
Stick Shift Only for 2024 Type S
Integra Type S will be sold only as a stick shift. The car’s six forward gears do come with rev-matching, though, so every shift will make you feel like a rock star if you’re afraid your left foot doesn’t remember what to do behind the wheel.
A helical (gears instead of clutches) limited-slip front differential helps put the power to the front wheels. Just like in the classic, it makes sure you’re not spinning the inside tire as you blast your ITS out of a sharp corner.
Acura has fitted the Integra Type S with a performance version of its adaptive damper system. This should help firm up the car, especially in Sport+ drive mode. Acura has added a thicker front sway to reduce roll and revised the steering system to cut torque steer.
Wide Fenders Hide Massive Rubber
Look at those Type S photos and you can clearly see the widened fenders both front and rear. The fenders are 2.8 inches wider than the standard Integra, and they’re about more than just good looks.
Its 19 x 9.5-inch alloys with an NSX-inspired design live under those flares. The bigger wheels are 2 pounds lighter than the A-Spec’s. They also help push the car’s track out 3.5 inches in the front and 1.9 inches in the rear to help the car handle.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires come standard on Type S. They’re the same 265/30 size as Honda offers on the Civic Type R, and they should be up to almost any performance driving.
Acura fitted four-piston Brembo brake calipers in the front clamping on 13.8-inch rotors. That’s 1.5 inches more than lesser Integras and the 12-inch rotors at the rear are 0.9 inches bigger. Cooling ducts for the front brakes route cool air from the nose to help prevent fade.
New Nose Flows More Crucial Air
Every body panel forward of the A-pillar is exclusive to the Type S. The vented aluminum hood and that new nose let more air flow through. Acura says 170% more, helping keep the engine cool. More air flows past the intercooler, too, helping keep the engine running at peak performance.
Last but not least is the cabin. Acura is a luxury brand, so while the Type S has chunky bolsters on its sports seats, they are trimmed in Ultrasuede. The shift boot is the same soft material, and there are Type S logos on the boot surround, steering wheel, and the seats.
The Integra Type S is a four-seater, with Acura binning the middle rear chair. It likely won’t be missed. Type S comes with a 10.2-inch digital cockpit display, a 9.0-inch touchscreen, and a 16-speaker 530-watt ELS audio system should you get tired of the exhaust.
Acura is building the 2024 Integra Type S exclusively at its plant in Marysville, Ohio. Production starts soon and the cars should be in dealers in June.
