First Look: 2023 Acura Integra prototype isn’t surprising, but exciting

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The Acura Integra is back after a 16-year hiatus. 

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Honda’s luxury marque revealed what it calls a “prototype” of the nameplate originally marketed in North America from 1985 through 2006 during a live-streamed event in Los Angeles this week, ahead of the LA auto show. Far from an in-depth look under the hood and inside the car, the seven-minute presentation focused mainly on design.

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First Look: 2023 Acura Integra prototype isn’t surprising, but exciting Back to video

First of all, the elephant: Does it look like the Civic upon which it’s based? Sure, it does! Did the brand write the word “Integra” in big block letters on the side of the prototype as if to say “this is not a Civic”? Sure, it did. 

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to welcome. What we do know – that the 2023 Integra will be an approximately US$30,000 ($37,700) five-door hatchback (a.k.a. liftback) with a peppy turbo engine and an available manual transmission – has us excited to learn more.  

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Acura vice-president and brand officer Jon Ikeda gave the presentation, describing the car as having a “coupe-like presence while maintaining the versatility of a liftback.”

“The Integra is an exciting new chapter in the history of one of the most iconic models Acura has ever built,” said  James Marchand, Assistant Vice President Acura Canada. “Its return marks our commitment to delivering performance-focused and fun to drive vehicles that are rich in style, versatility and attainable to a variety of consumers and lifestyles.”

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Acura’s next generation of design language is on display on the prototype, with the new frameless diamond pentagon grille from the Type S concept and four-element jewel-eye headlights and brakelights, but there are some elements to remind fans of the Integras of old (and that this is not a Civic, remember?) such as the taillights, which are wide one-pieces like in the good old days; and the Integra-embossed front and rear fascias just under the lights.

The prototype features dual exhaust outlets and was displayed in Indy Yellow Pearl, a colour that Acura offers on the NSX and that pays homage to the Phoenix Yellow of the third-gen Integra Type R. 

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The five-door hatchback is based on the Civic and will run the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission with limited slip-differential as the Civic Si, giving it the credit of being the first Integra turbocharged at factory. 

How much power this setup will generate for Acura is to be seen (the number is 200 horsepower in the Si). Such details were not revealed at the quick-and-dirty online presentation.

The 2023 Integra will be displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show from November 19 to 28, and production models are scheduled to arrive mid-2022.