Caught behind a dump truck going 14 mph by means of one of many cities that dot Hwy 154 in Southern California, I can’t assist however assume Acura is promoting the 2024 Integra Sort S brief on this primary drive program. I shouldn’t be annoyed by slowpokes. I ought to be negotiating the corkscrew at Laguna Seca

Not all of this route is so tame—it opens up into some enjoyable canyon roads later—however this can be a avenue drive as an alternative of a monitor drive as a result of Acura is touting the Integra Sort S as a extra mature avenue automobile than the associated Honda Civic Sort R, which is billed as a monitor machine. The Civic Sort R could also be barely sharper, however the Integra Sort S is not any much less succesful and extra inviting in addition.

Acura Integra Sort S: Rowdy energy

The Integra Sort S and Civic Sort R share a primary construction, a powertrain, and suspension. Even the tires are the identical proper all the way down to the scale and model.

The engine is the one factor of the Integra Sort S that has a sharper edge than the Civic Sort R, however solely barely. It’s the identical 2.0-liter turbo-4 with the identical 25.2 psi of enhance that offers it unbelievable energy. Right here, it makes 320 hp at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque from 2,600-4,000 rpm. That beats the Civic Sort R by 5 hp, however Acura says the Integra Sort S can also be programmed for higher mid-range torque.

The Integra Sort S can launch from 0-60 mph in a tad over 5 seconds, and right here it’s chomping on the bit to run free and unfettered from site visitors. It’s a torque-rich engine with robust responses from a cease. It’s additionally responsive within the mid-range and all the best way as much as its 7,000-rpm redline, although any distinction between the Sort S and Sort R would require back-to-back drives that aren’t out there right here.

Just like the Civic Sort R, getting the Integra Sort S to launch arduous is hard, as energy goes solely by means of a 6-speed handbook transmission to the entrance wheels and Acura supplies no launch management operate.

I strive a few arduous begins and discover it’s greatest to launch at about 2,000 rpm with about three-quarter throttle. Revving a lot increased than that causes the wheels to spin whenever you come off the clutch, and Acura has an rpm cut-off at 3,400 rpm that retards the facility. The entrance finish reacts admirably, too, giving solely the trace of torque steer with out a arduous pull to 1 facet or the opposite. Acura limits torque steer with equal-length half shafts, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and a dual-axis MacPherson strut entrance suspension that separates the knuckles and dampers.

The engine is even chattier than within the Sort R, not less than from the skin of the automobile. It has basically the identical exhaust system because the Honda with a single exhaust valve and three center-mounted 4.3-inch retailers, nevertheless it lacks the Honda’s entrance resonator and thus the louder sound. That sound is available in two levels, because the valve opens at increased rpm with the automobile within the Consolation drive mode, decrease rpm in Sport mode, and all the time stays open in Sport Plus. Sport Plus additionally triggers some pops and bangs from the exhaust on downshifts, upshifts, deceleration, or when revving the engine.

From the driving force seat, the engine actually makes its indignant beehive noises heard, however they don’t intervene with dialog as a result of the Integra has extra sound deadener than the Civic. I didn’t even discover the pops and bangs, or the sound of the blow-off valve, till I rolled down the home windows.

The handbook transmission is a typical Honda/Acura delight, with brief throws, optimistic engagement, and an awesome really feel by means of its steel and leather-based shift knob. My solely criticism is a lightweight clutch with a excessive engagement level that requires a couple of shifts to get used to.

Acura Integra Sort S: Entrance-drive surprise

The Integra Sort S’s front-wheel-drive structure additionally isn’t supreme for dealing with, however you wouldn’t understand it by driving the automobile. It takes its place with the Civic Sort R as the perfect dealing with front-wheel-drive automobiles available on the market.

Acura upgrades the usual Integra to get there. In becoming the completely different suspension parts from the Civic Sort R below the Integra, Acura engineers widened the entrance monitor 3.5 inches and the rear monitor 1.9 inches. The tubular entrance stabilizer bar is 2 mm wider at 29 mm, and the stable rear bar is 2 mm wider than the one on the A-Spec Integra at 20.5 mm. The multilink rear suspension additionally has high-rigidity knuckles and distinctive bushings comprised of a cloth Acura wouldn’t disclose. All of it reacts by means of a sport-tuned model of the Integra’s three-way adjustable dampers. The physique construction hasn’t modified, however Acura provides extra bonding materials.

The suspension makes room for greater wheels and tires because the Sort S rolls on 265/30R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4Ss mounted on 19×9.5-inch wheels at every nook. The wheels could also be greater than the A-Spec mannequin’s 18s, however they’re 6.5% lighter.

Whereas the variable steering ratio is definitely barely slower than on different Integras, it’s nonetheless very fast with a ratio that ranges from 11.62:1 at full lock to 14.9:1 on heart. The brakes additionally develop 1.5 inches up entrance to 13.8 inches with Brembo 4-piston calipers and 0.9 inch within the rear to 12.0 inches with single-slot calipers.

With energy despatched solely by means of the entrance wheels, these Michelins must handle the acceleration and steering, and carry many of the braking pressure, and so they do all of it effectively.

The open canyon roads I expertise later within the day reveal a lot however not all the hatchback’s dealing with prowess.

Like different Integras, the Sort S has weighty, direct steering that corporations up much more at freeway speeds to enhance high-speed stability. The automobile turns in to corners shortly, and the rear finish follows alongside dutifully. It waterbugs by means of ess turns, and places its energy down effectively when accelerating out of corners due to the broad tires and limited-slip diff.  

These tires can solely accomplish that a lot, although, so balancing the burden for turning, accelerating, and braking is vital. When an excessive amount of velocity makes it push in a nook, letting off the throttle or a small dab of brake tucks the nostril in properly to carve by means of the flip. When exiting a nook too quick, it should run broad, however rather less throttle will get it again on monitor.

That is all straightforward to really feel due to somewhat little bit of physique lean, regardless of the damper setting, by means of the well-tuned suspension. In every of the three damper modes—Consolation, Sport, and Sport+—the Integra Sort S is a half step softer than the Civic Sort R’s suspension, which we discovered created a too-busy experience on damaged pavement. Consolation supplies an on a regular basis comfy experience high quality, Sport+ borders on arduous over bumps, and Sport is the candy spot for twisty roads.

General, the Sort S feels prefer it has all of the efficiency of the Sort R. It might in all probability put up about the identical time round a monitor like Laguna Seca, nevertheless it’s extra comfy on the road. That matches with the automobile’s extra grown-up character, which can also be mirrored in its seems and tools.

Acura Integra Sort S: The grown-up alternative

The Integra Sort S sports activities quite a lot of exterior modifications to enhance efficiency.

Up entrance, it wears a bigger, extra open grille with a diamond-pattern mesh and 170% extra airflow than different Integras. This air cools the engine and flows by means of a vent within the aluminum hood for elevate discount. The decrease fascia has bigger air intakes with areas for brake cooling and canards that assist create air curtains across the entrance wheels.

Wider decrease sills match wheel flares that make the automobile 2.8 inches wider than different Integras, and the rear finish has an built-in lip spoiler and a gloss-black diffuser with triple center-exit exhaust finishers.

The modifications give the Integra Sort S a purposeful stance that doesn’t stray too far into boy racer territory thanks largely to the shortage of a Civic Sort R-like rear wing. That will imply the Acura has barely much less downforce on a monitor than the Honda, nevertheless it’s a good value to pay to drive a automobile with a design that workout routines smart restraint.

The inside modifications a lot much less. The seats have the identical design as in different Integras however they get firmer bolsters, artificial suede inserts, and distinction stitching. Heated and with 8-way energy changes and 4-way energy lumbar changes, they’re sporty and comfy seats, however they aren’t as aggressive because the Recaros and extra excessive sport seats provided by different producers. Greater of us will recognize that, however smaller individuals might not; I like them. The rear seat is formed for 2 passengers as an alternative of the usual three of different Integras.

The inside additionally contains a perforated leather-based steering wheel and shift knob, an artificial suede shift boot with coloured stitching, and a decrease sprint that’s color-matched to the client’s alternative of Purple, Ebony, or Orchid inside colours.

Acura additionally outfits the Sort S with luxurious automobile ranges of normal tools, together with a ten.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 9.0-inch touchscreen, a head-up show, 16-speaker ELS audio, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wi-fi smartphone charging.

Customary security options encompass blind-spot displays, rear cross-traffic alerts, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lively lane management, adaptive cruise management, entrance and rear parking sensors, and site visitors signal recognition.

This all comes for a value of $51,995 together with an $1,195 vacation spot payment. That’s about $10,000 greater than the Civic Sort R, which gained the Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2023 award. Nevertheless, the Integra Sort S is extra civil than the Civic and higher outfitted. It could actually additionally doubtless carry out simply as effectively so long as a slow-moving dump trunk isn’t blocking the best way. We’ll goal to make that occur throughout our Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2024 testing later this 12 months.

Acura paid for journey and lodging for Motor Authority to convey you this firsthand report.