New Acura Integra teased

Honda’s luxury American brand Acura has confirmed it will dust off the Integra nameplate in mid-2022, announcing the news at Monterey Car Week in California with a teaser image of the new model.

The teaser previews a headlight of the “new compact premium entrant”, situated against a trapezoidal grille seen on other models across the Acura range and embossed lettering of the name Integra on the front bumper.

The Integra’s arrival will end a 20-year-hiatus from Acura’s portfolio. The Integra was renamed RSX in 2001 when the model entered its fourth generation in America.

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Even though Honda Australia sold the Integra from 1986 to 2006, including both a Type S and Type R variant, there’s so far nothing to suggest that the new generation Integra will be sold in Australia, or even built in right-hand drive.

Honda Australia would not comment on the news, which pointedly has come from Acura, rather than Honda Japan.

What form the Integra will take is also speculated, after reports on a leaked product planning document suggest it will be a sedan.

But this contradicts clues revealed at the Monterey Car Week, where American journalists shared images of a drone show which hinted at the vehicle’s fast-back silhouette.

Even so, the hype for a new-generation Integra is reaching fever pitch, after fan renderings of an Honda Integra Type R released earlier this week whipped the internet into a frenzy over the idea of a two-door coupe’s return.

The American-market Honda Civic SI is the closest thing to an Integra spiritual successor in recent years, given it was based on a Civic, offered as a coupe, and put 153kW/260Nm through a six-speed manual.

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Perhaps what is most assuring for Integra fans is that Acura’s Vice President Jon Ikeda has promised it will honour the original faithfully.

“I’m thrilled to say Integra is returning to the Acura line-up with the same fun-to-drive spirit and DNA of the original,” he said in a statement, “fulfilling our commitment to Precision Crafted Performance in every way—design, performance and the overall driving experience."