In recent months the car community has been in a deep frenzy when Acura revived the Integra nameplate, by showing multiple teaser images, videos and the silhouette of the vehicle. Today I’ll be giving you brief rundown of the Integra nameplate and its significant contribution to the car community.

Before heading straight to the point, I’m going to give you a brief and casual explanation on the history of the Integra.

The Integra was first introduced in 1985 and 1986 respectively, Japan firstly called it the Honda Integra, while in North America, and Canada Acura called it the Integra a year later. The Integra was a 2 door coupé or 4 door sedan that had a Front-Wheel-Drive layout which either came in manual or automatic transmission.

The Integra offered sportier versions, the Type R introduced in 1995 and ended in 2006. The Type R had two versions, Japan had the DC2 (1995) and DC5 (2003) respectively, while North America had only the DC2 Acura Integra Type R (1998). North America nearly had a second Type R generation but settled on a mild 2004 DC5 Acura RSX Type S.

Honda and Acura retired the Integra nameplate in 2006.

Now here are five reasons why the Integra is such a valuable name in the autosphere.

1. The first to kick in VTEC YO!

A lot of enthusiasts did not know that the Integra was technically the first to introduce VTEC to the public, making it the earliest adopter of the legendary B16A 4 cylinder engine. Another technicality is the fact that it was the first Honda to introduce the Type R nameplate to the masses, sure some people may debate that the NSX Type R was the first, but it can quickly be debunked by the fact that it wasn’t obtainable to the masses.

2. The best of both worlds

The Integra had developed a reputation for its handling capabilities and driving enjoyment, it impressed reviewers and buyers alike. A lot had to do with its suspension system and transmission set-up, for the suspension they firstly used independent Strut (Front) and Multilink (Rear), they upgraded to Double A arm from front to rear for improved handling characteristics. For the last generation (DC5) they quickly reverted back to Strut suspension for improved interior capacity, but made adjustments to the suspension geometry to maintain decent handling.

For the manual transmission it all came down to the shift linkage which used solid steel unlike its competitors which used rubber linkages. The end result was Honda’s signature shifting feel.

To avoid confusion by my nerdy car terminologies, let me put it this way, “the car puts a smile on people’s faces when driving it.”

What’s even more amazing is that it was affordable to the masses, meaning that consumers had the option to use it as a daily driver or a sportscar for spirited drives. That perfect balance between performance and usability had allowed the Integra to earn multiple awards such as the coveted “Car and Driver annual Ten Best list” from 1987 to 2003.

3. Brief Motorsport Pedigree

The Integra made brief appearances on motorsport, the most notable achievement made was at the SPEED Touring car championship. The car in question was a race specified DC2 Acura Integra Type R racing under RealTime Racing team, it captured 23 race wins with 5 drivers’ championship titles and a record defining 4 manufacturers’ titles (1998, 1999, 2000, and 2002) which still remains intact to this day.

4. Tightly knit community

The Integra had met the criteria for developing a loyal following, affordability, reliability, availability and street credibility. Specifically on street credibility, the Integra was at the forefront of the tuning culture BOOM of the late 1990s. The popularity had resulted on the birth of the aftermarket scene, Spoon Type ONE Racing, Mugen, Skunk 2 Racing, Toda Racing, etcetera offered performance enhancement parts for the Integra to this day. Now the Integra is seen everywhere from amateur racing, stance meets, showcar events, and other automotive recreational activities.

5. It defined Honda

Ok this reason is a bit subjective, but hear me out, it changed the perception of how people saw Honda at the time. Before the Integra existed Honda was generally viewed as a dull brand that offered solidly built cars for logical buyers, in simple terms it lacked excitement.

When the Integra came into scene in the mid late 1980s, it slowly carved a niche of young buyers only it being accelerated by introducing the spicier Type R versions which then every young buyer wanted to own an Integra. The Integra made Honda a hip and cool brand but still maintained their initial market of logical buyers. Since the Integra was put into pasture, the baton was passed down to the Civic as the car that appealed to young buyers.

Just a few months left before Acura officially unveils the newly revived Integra, sure there’s a healthy number of sceptics who believe that it won’t rekindle the magic of older generations. Their scepticism is valid because other brands tried reviving a retired old name but failed dismally (cough NSX), however let’s remain positive and see what Acura has to offer.

Source: MotorTrend