Caught behind a dump truck going 14 mph by way of one of many cities that dot Hwy 154 in Southern California, I can’t assist however assume Acura is promoting the 2024 Integra Kind S quick on this primary drive program. I shouldn’t be annoyed by slowpokes. I needs 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 it is a avenue drive as a substitute of a monitor drive as a result of Acura is touting the Integra Kind S as a extra mature avenue automobile than the associated Honda Civic Kind R, which is billed as a monitor machine. The Civic Kind R could also be barely sharper, however the Integra Kind S is not any much less succesful and extra inviting besides.

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

Acura Integra Kind S: Rowdy energy

The Integra Kind S and Civic Kind 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 aspect of the Integra Kind S that has a sharper edge than the Civic Kind R, however solely barely. It’s the identical 2.0-liter turbo-4 with the identical 25.2 psi of enhance that provides it unimaginable 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 Kind R by 5 hp, however Acura says the Integra Kind S can be programmed for higher mid-range torque.

The Integra Kind 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 sturdy responses from a cease. It’s additionally responsive within the mid-range and all the way in which as much as its 7,000-rpm redline, although any distinction between the Kind S and Kind R would require back-to-back drives that aren’t accessible right here.

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

I attempt a few exhausting begins and discover it’s greatest to launch at about 2,000 rpm with about three-quarter throttle. Revving a lot larger than that causes the wheels to spin if you come off the clutch, and Acura has an rpm cut-off at 3,400 rpm that retards the ability. The entrance finish reacts admirably, too, giving solely the trace of torque steer with no exhausting 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 Kind R, not less than from the skin of the automobile. It has primarily the identical exhaust system because the Honda with a single exhaust valve and three center-mounted 4.3-inch shops, however it lacks the Honda’s entrance resonator and thus the louder sound. That sound is available in two phases, because the valve opens at larger rpm with the automobile within the Consolation drive mode, decrease rpm in Sport mode, and at all times 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 motive force seat, the engine actually makes its offended beehive noises heard, however they don’t intrude 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 quick throws, optimistic engagement, and an incredible really feel by way of its steel and leather-based shift knob. My solely criticism is a lightweight clutch with a excessive engagement level that requires just a few shifts to get used to.

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

Acura Integra Kind S: Entrance-drive surprise

The Integra Kind S’s front-wheel-drive format additionally isn’t perfect for dealing with, however you wouldn’t comprehend it by driving the automobile. It takes its place with the Civic Kind R as the most effective dealing with front-wheel-drive vehicles in the marketplace.

Acura upgrades the usual Integra to get there. In becoming the totally different suspension elements from the Civic Kind 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 strong 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 produced from a fabric Acura wouldn’t expose. All of it reacts by way 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 Kind 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 way of the entrance wheels, these Michelins must handle the acceleration and steering, and carry a lot of the braking power, they usually do all of it properly.

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 Kind S has weighty, direct steering that companies 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 way of ess turns, and places its energy down effectively when accelerating out of corners because of the huge tires and limited-slip diff.  

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

That is all straightforward to really feel because of a bit little bit of physique lean, irrespective of the damper setting, by way of the well-tuned suspension. In every of the three damper modes—Consolation, Sport, and Sport+—the Integra Kind S is a half step softer than the Civic Kind 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 exhausting over bumps, and Sport is the candy spot for twisty roads.

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

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

Acura Integra Kind S: The grown-up selection

The Integra Kind 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 way of a vent within the aluminum hood for raise 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 Kind S a purposeful stance that doesn’t stray too far into boy racer territory thanks principally to the shortage of a Civic Kind R-like rear wing. That will imply the Acura has barely much less downforce on a monitor than the Honda, however it’s a good worth to pay to drive a automobile with a design that workouts clever restraint.

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

2024 Acura Integra Kind S

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 cozy seats, however they aren’t as aggressive because the Recaros and extra excessive sport seats supplied by different producers. Larger people will respect that, however smaller folks could not; I like them. The rear seat is formed for 2 passengers as a substitute of the usual three of different Integras.

The inside additionally encompasses 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 customer’s selection of Purple, Ebony, or Orchid inside colours.

Acura additionally outfits the Kind S with luxurious automobile ranges of normal gear, 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.

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

This all comes for a worth of $51,995 together with an $1,195 vacation spot payment. That’s about $10,000 greater than the Civic Kind R, which received the Motor Authority Greatest Automotive To Purchase 2023 award. Nonetheless, the Integra Kind S is extra civil than the Civic and higher outfitted. It may well additionally possible carry out simply as properly so long as a slow-moving dump trunk isn’t blocking the way in which. We’ll purpose to make that occur throughout our Motor Authority Greatest Automotive To Purchase 2024 testing later this 12 months.

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