Caught behind a dump truck going 14 mph via one of many cities that dot Hwy 154 in Southern California, I can’t assist however suppose Acura is promoting the 2024 Integra Kind S quick on this primary drive program. I shouldn’t be pissed off by slowpokes. I ought to be negotiating the corkscrew at Laguna Seca
Not all of this route is so tame—it opens up into some enjoyable canyon roads later—however it is a avenue drive as an alternative of a monitor drive as a result of Acura is touting the Integra Kind S as a extra mature avenue automobile than the associated Honda Civic Kind R, which is billed as a monitor machine. The Civic Kind R could also be barely sharper, however the Integra Kind S is not any much less succesful and extra inviting in addition.
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
Acura Integra Kind S: Rowdy energy
The Integra Kind S and Civic Kind R share a fundamental construction, a powertrain, and suspension. Even the tires are the identical proper all the way down to the dimensions and model.
The engine is the one component of the Integra Kind S that has a sharper edge than the Civic Kind R, however solely barely. It’s the identical 2.0-liter turbo-4 with the identical 25.2 psi of enhance that offers it unbelievable energy. Right here, it makes 320 hp at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque from 2,600-4,000 rpm. That beats the Civic Kind R by 5 hp, however Acura says the Integra Kind S can be programmed for higher mid-range torque.
The Integra Kind S can launch from 0-60 mph in a tad over 5 seconds, and right here it’s chomping on the bit to run free and unfettered from site visitors. It’s a torque-rich engine with robust responses from a cease. It’s additionally responsive within the mid-range and all the best way as much as its 7,000-rpm redline, although any distinction between the Kind S and Kind R would require back-to-back drives that aren’t accessible right here.
Just like the Civic Kind R, getting the Integra Kind S to launch exhausting is hard, as energy goes solely via a 6-speed guide transmission to the entrance wheels and Acura offers no launch management perform.
I attempt a few exhausting begins and discover it’s greatest to launch at about 2,000 rpm with about three-quarter throttle. Revving a lot increased than that causes the wheels to spin once you come off the clutch, and Acura has an rpm cut-off at 3,400 rpm that retards the facility. The entrance finish reacts admirably, too, giving solely the trace of torque steer and not using a exhausting pull to at least one facet or the opposite. Acura limits torque steer with equal-length half shafts, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and a dual-axis MacPherson strut entrance suspension that separates the knuckles and dampers.
The engine is even chattier than within the Kind R, a minimum of from the surface of the automobile. It has basically the identical exhaust system because the Honda with a single exhaust valve and three center-mounted 4.3-inch shops, however it lacks the Honda’s entrance resonator and thus the louder sound. That sound is available in two levels, because the valve opens at increased rpm with the automobile within the Consolation drive mode, decrease rpm in Sport mode, and all the time stays open in Sport Plus. Sport Plus additionally triggers some pops and bangs from the exhaust on downshifts, upshifts, deceleration, or when revving the engine.
From the driving force seat, the engine definitely makes its indignant beehive noises heard, however they don’t intrude with dialog as a result of the Integra has extra sound deadener than the Civic. I didn’t even discover the pops and bangs, or the sound of the blow-off valve, till I rolled down the home windows.
The guide transmission is a typical Honda/Acura delight, with quick throws, constructive engagement, and an awesome really feel via its metallic and leather-based shift knob. My solely criticism is a lightweight clutch with a excessive engagement level that requires a couple of shifts to get used to.
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
Acura Integra Kind S: Entrance-drive surprise
The Integra Kind S’s front-wheel-drive format additionally isn’t excellent for dealing with, however you wouldn’t comprehend it by driving the automobile. It takes its place with the Civic Kind R as the most effective dealing with front-wheel-drive automobiles available on the market.
Acura upgrades the usual Integra to get there. In becoming the totally different suspension elements from the Civic Kind R below the Integra, Acura engineers widened the entrance monitor 3.5 inches and the rear monitor 1.9 inches. The tubular entrance stabilizer bar is 2 mm wider at 29 mm, and the stable rear bar is 2 mm wider than the one on the A-Spec Integra at 20.5 mm. The multilink rear suspension additionally has high-rigidity knuckles and distinctive bushings comprised of a cloth Acura wouldn’t disclose. All of it reacts via a sport-tuned model of the Integra’s three-way adjustable dampers. The physique construction hasn’t modified, however Acura provides extra bonding materials.
The suspension makes room for larger wheels and tires because the Kind S rolls on 265/30R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4Ss mounted on 19×9.5-inch wheels at every nook. The wheels could also be larger than the A-Spec mannequin’s 18s, however they’re 6.5% lighter.
Whereas the variable steering ratio is definitely barely slower than on different Integras, it’s nonetheless very fast with a ratio that ranges from 11.62:1 at full lock to 14.9:1 on heart. The brakes additionally develop 1.5 inches up entrance to 13.8 inches with Brembo 4-piston calipers and 0.9 inch within the rear to 12.0 inches with single-slot calipers.
With energy despatched solely via the entrance wheels, these Michelins must handle the acceleration and steering, and carry a lot of the braking drive, and so they do all of it nicely.
The open canyon roads I expertise later within the day reveal a lot however not all the hatchback’s dealing with prowess.
Like different Integras, the Kind S has weighty, direct steering that corporations up much more at freeway speeds to enhance high-speed stability. The automobile turns in to corners shortly, and the rear finish follows alongside dutifully. It waterbugs via ess turns, and places its energy down effectively when accelerating out of corners due to the large tires and limited-slip diff.
These tires can solely achieve this a lot, although, so balancing the load for turning, accelerating, and braking is vital. When an excessive amount of velocity makes it push in a nook, letting off the throttle or a small dab of brake tucks the nostril in properly to carve via the flip. When exiting a nook too quick, it can run large, however rather less throttle will get it again on monitor.
That is all simple to really feel due to just a little little bit of physique lean, regardless of the damper setting, via the well-tuned suspension. In every of the three damper modes—Consolation, Sport, and Sport+—the Integra Kind S is a half step softer than the Civic Kind R’s suspension, which we discovered created a too-busy experience on damaged pavement. Consolation offers an on a regular basis comfy experience high quality, Sport+ borders on exhausting over bumps, and Sport is the candy spot for twisty roads.
Total, the Kind S feels prefer it has all of the efficiency of the Kind R. It could in all probability put up about the identical time round a monitor like Laguna Seca, however it’s extra comfy on the road. That matches with the automobile’s extra grown-up character, which can be mirrored in its appears and tools.
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
Acura Integra Kind S: The grown-up alternative
The Integra Kind S sports activities quite a lot of exterior modifications to enhance efficiency.
Up entrance, it wears a bigger, extra open grille with a diamond-pattern mesh and 170% extra airflow than different Integras. This air cools the engine and flows via a vent within the aluminum hood for raise discount. The decrease fascia has bigger air intakes with areas for brake cooling and canards that assist create air curtains across the entrance wheels.
Wider decrease sills match wheel flares that make the automobile 2.8 inches wider than different Integras, and the rear finish has an built-in lip spoiler and a gloss-black diffuser with triple center-exit exhaust finishers.
The modifications give the Integra Kind S a purposeful stance that doesn’t stray too far into boy racer territory thanks largely to the dearth of a Civic Kind R-like rear wing. That will imply the Acura has barely much less downforce on a monitor than the Honda, however it’s a good worth to pay to drive a automobile with a design that workout routines sensible restraint.
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
2024 Acura Integra Kind S
The inside modifications a lot much less. The seats have the identical design as in different Integras however they get firmer bolsters, artificial suede inserts, and distinction stitching. Heated and with 8-way energy changes and 4-way energy lumbar changes, they’re sporty and cozy seats, however they aren’t as aggressive because the Recaros and extra excessive sport seats supplied by different producers. Larger of us will admire that, however smaller folks could not; I like them. The rear seat is formed for 2 passengers as an alternative of the usual three of different Integras.
The inside additionally contains a perforated leather-based steering wheel and shift knob, an artificial suede shift boot with coloured stitching, and a decrease sprint that’s color-matched to the client’s alternative of Purple, Ebony, or Orchid inside colours.
Acura additionally outfits the Kind S with luxurious automobile ranges of normal tools, together with a ten.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 9.0-inch touchscreen, a head-up show, 16-speaker ELS audio, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wi-fi smartphone charging.
Normal security options include blind-spot screens, rear cross-traffic alerts, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lively lane management, adaptive cruise management, entrance and rear parking sensors, and site visitors signal recognition.
This all comes for a worth of $51,995 together with an $1,195 vacation spot charge. That’s about $10,000 greater than the Civic Kind R, which gained the Motor Authority Greatest Automobile To Purchase 2023 award. Nevertheless, the Integra Kind S is extra civil than the Civic and higher geared up. It might additionally seemingly carry out simply as nicely so long as a slow-moving dump trunk isn’t blocking the best way. We’ll goal to make that occur throughout our Motor Authority Greatest Automobile To Purchase 2024 testing later this yr.
Acura paid for journey and lodging for Motor Authority to carry you this firsthand report.
