The much-anticipated 2024 Acura Integra Type S made its public debut ahead of the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach in California on April 11, and it's every bit the compact street performance machine people were hoping it would be. As the standard Integra borrows liberally from the Honda Civic, the Type S leans heavily on the Civic Type R hatchback platform. Though the two cars share similar DNA, the Type S has its own personality, with unique styling and a bit more oomph under the hood. While the Integra Type S won't hit showroom floors until June, this recent debut gives the perfect opportunity to see how it stacks up against the Civic Type R.
The 2024 Integra Type S One-Ups The Civic Type R
Owing to the level of anticipation the 2024 Acura Integra Type S has generated, YouTuber Matt Maran Motoring made a video comparing it to the Honda Civic Type R that has generated almost 100k views in just two days. The thing that strikes Matt the most is the styling of the Type S, which he says looks "Like a SEMA build" with aggressive fender flairs, bumpers, and vented aluminum hood. According to an Acura press release, "Every body panel forward of the A-pillars is unique to Type S."
Matt notes that Integra Type R shares the same engine, transmission and front-wheel drive set up as the Civic Type S, but found a way to improve upon those things. Though it packs the same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine as the Civic Type R, the Integra Type S squeezes out an extra five horsepower, thanks to a unique exhaust system. The six-speed manual transmission is also the same but the Integra Type S comes with a darker anodized shifter knob, versus the shiny aluminum one in the Civic Type R. While this may not seem like a big deal, anyone who's ever scorched their hand on a shiny knob that's been sitting in the hot sun all afternoon will tell you it is.
There are a few important details with the interior that the Type S beats the Type R with. The Integra features a five and a half inch heads up display, something that the Civic lacks. The Type S also comes with a 16-speaker 530-watt ELS STUDIO 3D premium audio system, that is four speakers better than the Type R's Bose beat box. The Type S has a slightly less sporty seat than the Type R, but Acura says they have firmer bolsters, and more importantly are heated, which the Honda doesn't offer. The biggest interior improvement however is that the Integra Type S offers color options (red, black, and orchid) while with the Civic Type R, you get what you get.
Unique To The Integra Type S
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S comes standard with the same direct-injection DOHC turbocharged 2.0-liter VTEC engine as the Honda Civic Type R. While the Type R produces315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet. of torque with that engine, the Type S cranks it up to 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The way the Integra gains these extra ponies is with a unique high-flow exhaust system. Acura also added an active exhaust valve, that when put in Sport+ mode, "turns it up to 11 with show stopping 'pops and bangs'" according to the automaker. Evidently, when a 2024 Type S is coming up on you, you'll know by the sound it's making.
The Diamond Pentagon grill on the redesigned front fascia, along with the vented aluminum hood combine to improve airflow by 180%, to cool down that high-revving turbo engine. Performance is further improved by a wider lower opening that feeds air to the intercooler, which supports higher boost pressure. On the back, the Integra Type S loses that big wing from the Civic Type R, in favor of a gloss black diffuser and decklid spoiler to intensify downforce.
The Integra Type S utilizes the same dual-axis front suspension as the Civic Type R but has some fine-tuning that gives it a performance edge. Unique to the Type S is an exclusively-tuned Adaptive Damper System, with Comfort, Sport and Sport+ driving modes to give precise ride and handling control. Lastly, the Integra Type S has 10-spoke 19 x 9.5-inch Shark Gray alloy wheels, that are two pounds lighter.
"The new Acura Integra Type S puts turbocharged Type S performance and design at the gateway to our brand," said Acura National Sales Vice President, Emile Korkor, adding, "The new Integra just won the 2023 North American Car of the Year award and Integra Type S builds upon its incredible performance with significant enhancements to all elements of the driving experience without compromising interior refinement or daily drivability."
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S Delivers
The 2024 Acura Integra is being built in Honda's Marysville, Ohio plant and will be available to the public in June. No price has been announced, but the Civic Type R starts at $44,390, so it will probably be in the same neighborhood. Acura is the luxury and performance division of Honda, but it's unlikely they'd tack on too many extra dollars for something that is essentially a Civic Type R. Expect the Integra Type S to come in under $50,000.
Matt Maran Motoring concluded that the Acura Integra Type S is, "for those who want something a little softer and more subtle than the Civic Type R while still having all the same great fun and practicality." Car and Driver more or less agrees, stating - "The 2024 Acura Integra Type S Is a Civic Type R for Grown-Ups." With the aggressive styling and slightly more power and performance, it seems like the Integra Type S is the petulant one, but either way, it's a sporty compact that delivers what fans were hoping for.