Acura Integra Type S revealed; officially ruled out for Australia

UPDATE: Honda/Acura Integra Type S detailed for the US market.

Honda has unveiled the Integra Type S in full, with sales to start in June. Unfortunately, the liftback Integra – which would be a perfect rival for Skoda's Octavia RS – has been ruled out for Australian release.

The oily bits are effectively carried over from the Civic Type R, though the Integra Type S is rated 5hp higher at 320hp (SAE, equivalent to 238kW). It uses the same six-speed manual transmission to drive the front wheels.

Outside, the Integra Type S gets an aggressive visual makeover akin to the Civic Type R, with its guards pumped by 71mm to accommodate the 265/30 R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres fitted with copper-painted lightweight 19-inch alloys; a bonnet scoop completes the menacing look.

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Click to view the full Acura Type S gallery

Hiding under the large alloys are four-piston Brembo front brake calipers clamping 350mm ventilated rotors, and the rear rotors measure 305mm.

Compared to the Civic Type R, the Integra is about 120mm longer, though rides on the same 2735mm wheelbase. The Type S also weighs 30kg more than the Civic Type R.

Part of the reason behind keeping the Integra Type S US-market only is that it's constructed at Honda/Acura's US plant in Marysville, Ohio, whereas the Civic Type R is built at Honda's Yorii plant in Japan.

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Our original story, below, continues unchanged

John Law

The Story to here

If your ears pricked up at the news that Honda is about to pull the covers off a new Integra Type S, then you’re not alone.

Honda reintroduced the Integra nameplate in America last year – over there it’s sold as an Acura, which is Honda’s luxury brand – and a new, performance-focused Type S variant is set to be revealed on April 14 at the Long Beach IndyCar Grand Prix.

The new Integra Type S is built on the same platform as the 11th generation Honda Civic and it will share the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine as the new Civic Type R, which makes 235kW and 420Nm.

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The two cars will be sold side-by-side in America, but any hopes their commonality might see Honda Australia import the Integra Type S to sell alongside the Civic Type R, have been dashed.

“No firm plans for any Acura, but we’ll keep monitoring things going forward,” said Honda Australia director Carolyn McMahon when we asked about the Type S’s chances of an Aussie introduction. “At the moment we’re really just focusing on our SUV strategy and hybrid enhancement.”

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Importing the Integra to Australia was always a long shot. Unlike the Civic, which is manufactured in Japan and Thailand, the Integra is made in America, meaning right-hand-drive versions are off the table.

“It [Integra] is manufactured out of the US, so I don’t believe it’s available in right-hand drive,” confirmed McMahon.

There’s also duplication with Civic Type R to consider. Unlike previous Integra models, the new Type S will be a five-door liftback and share some styling cues with the Civic Type R, including its three exhaust outlets (above).

As for the prospects of other performance Hondas from the brand’s global portfolio coming to Australia? They’re slim. Honda Australia’s immediate focus is on higher-volume SUVs like the incoming ZR-V and new-generation CR-V.

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“At the moment we’re happy with our line-up,” said McMahon. “We’ll continue monitoring what’s available to us and what the market requirements are, but no plans to add anything else at the moment.”

Alex Inwood