{"id":18625,"date":"2023-11-16T17:16:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T09:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/?p=18625"},"modified":"2026-08-28T17:23:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T09:23:41","slug":"the-acura-integra-type-s-is-the-tuner-cultures-car-matured","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/2023\/11\/16\/the-acura-integra-type-s-is-the-tuner-cultures-car-matured\/","title":{"rendered":"The Acura Integra Type S Is the Tuner Culture’s Car, Matured"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Everyone grows up, it\u2019s inevitable. Our tastes change, our needs change, our perspectives change. But do we change as a whole? That\u2019s subjective, as you can take the \u201ctuner\u201d out of the scene, but you can\u2019t take the\u2026 well you know how that goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acura rolled out the Integra Type S earlier this year to mixed reviews, most saying it\u2019s too little too late, or blasphemous to add two additional doors \u2013 the Integra name has always been a coupe. Others were iffy about it, drawing too close of a comparison to the car to which it\u2019s based: the Honda Civic Type R FL5. However, after we spent a good amount of time \u2013 and miles \u2013 with it, the Type S makes a lot of sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For our latest Test Drive, we took the Acura Integra Type S on a 524-mile excursion to the Integra\u2019s origins \u2013 Las Vegas\u2019 annual haven for tuners and racers, SEMA. On our way there, we realized that not only would the car fit perfectly with the audience of the Speed Equipment Manufacturing Association conferences and meets, but the Type S is a synonym for the event itself \u2013 matured and grown up, but it never forgot where it came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Looks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and one could argue that wider is better but if we\u2019re completely honest, we\u2019re not completely smitten by the Integra Type S\u2019s looks. We will agree that the wide fenders makes the car aggressive and from certain angles \u2013 like straight top down \u2013 it looks really good. But overall we can\u2019t help but compare the Type S\u2019s body to bigger body muscle cars we see on the road; a bit of a Dodge Charger in the fenders, for example. Our favorite design aspect of the Integra Type S in fact isn\u2019t the wide stance, but the front end. With the addition of the hood vent, the fascia is mean and stout, has a good proportion of angles and cuts, and we don\u2019t even hate the oversized front badge and grill surround, accented by a subtle-in-comparison Type S badge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rear is another letdown. The triple tail pipes don\u2019t go with the rear bumper or lower valence. We\u2019d be curious how a set of quad tailpipes, staggered, would\u2019ve looked instead, which would in turn pair well with the wider stance. Ironically, the triple tailpipes fit the Civic Type R a bit better, maybe because it matches the slimmer bumpers and rounds things out. Nevertheless, it\u2019s a center piece (pun intended) for the car and people will either love it or hate it. The other details also don\u2019t really do it for us: the smoothed diffuser fins makes them go unnoticed, the fake vents \u2013 albeit tiny \u2013 disrupts the flow of the bumper, and even the tail lights are honestly a bit boring in overall design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But one thing we did enjoy about the Type S\u2019s appearance are the little things that you notice as you walk up to it. And you guessed it, we\u2019re talking about the embossed \u201cINTEGRA\u201d in the bumper. While not exclusive to the Type S, the effort to include it as a throwback reference is not the only reason we like it; it\u2019s simply a design element we don\u2019t see with many other cars, who rather opt for either huge badge lettering or vinyl decals. We also noticed mini \u201cAcura\u201d typography within the headlights that we enjoyed, as well as the carbon fiber trunk spoiler at the rear (the hood vent is black glossy plastic however, which is a missed opportunity). BREMBO lettering being included onto the \u201cACURA\u201d calipers is another perfect example of detail for detail\u2019s sake, as most brands will opt to delete them for dominance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, we\u2019re even less impressed unfortunately. The biggest letdown are the seats \u2013 quite frankly, the Honda Civic Type R has the best seats ever. In both the FK8 and FL5 generations, they\u2019re so supportive and heavily bolstered for corners, but also comfy enough with ample cushioning. The Type S uses a completely different set of seats that are flat, low bolstered at the thighs and in fact not even cushioned enough for long trips \u2013 we sighed relief once we hopped out at a rest stop after three hours on I-15. For a car that borrowed so much from the CTR, we\u2019d trade all of it for just the seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another weird decision was the shift knob. For some reason, Honda\/Acura went with a contrasting red stitching on the knob at the 6 o\u2019clock position that scratched and irritated as we shifted up to third and fifth gear. Couldn\u2019t they have spent just a little bit more and refined the leather with a hidden stitch? Did the 1\u201d bit of red really make the gearbox that much sportier? Thankfully the size of the knob is good, fitting our palm nicely and the shape is pretty comfortable as we shifted into all gears. Bonus points though for the use of a dark aluminum metal finish, and the Alcantara shift boot was lightweight and silky smooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall however we\u2019d score the interior quite low. Black\/red two-toned interior isn\u2019t our first choice, as we\u2019d almost prefer an all black interior combo, or perhaps a mix of black leather and grey suede. The steering wheel reminded us of an Audi design but was overall fairly forgettable, the infotainment buttons and screen didn\u2019t feel up-to-date, and, unsurprisingly, we even encountered rattles from two different locations within the cabin, both occuring as the car revved into the higher RPMs, causing us to knock around and tap the dash to find the culprit. Granted it\u2019s not a six-figured German car, but it is an Acura that\u2019s meant to be a bit more luxurious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looks aside, we\u2019re relieved with how the Integra Type S drives. Its engine \u2013 the same 2.0L turbo in-line four with VTEC\u00ae extracted from the Civic Type R \u2013 sounds, pulls, and revs just like it does from its Honda brethren. The turbos kick in fairly early around the 2500-3000rpm area, giving it plenty of midrange torque and lots of opportunities for shifting, which is a delight. We did encounter a bit of torque steer however, and noticed the front diff fighting us as we throttled through slow-to-mid speed corners and on-ramps. Nevertheless, Acura states the Type S is good for 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and we saw that as pretty accurate, reaching that mark in second gear with a few thousand revs left to ring out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the engine is good. What about transmission? Here we\u2019re similarly impressed, because each gear felt appropriate for its speed. We\u2019d almost go as far as to say it wasn\u2019t too short like its competitors \u2013 just a little in the Toyota GR Corolla Morizo in our opinion \u2013 and definitely not too long. In first, second, and even the early revs of third, we were able to get traction control to kick in, and with it turned off we definitely chirped the tires a bit. The shifts are pretty crisp with just a slight notch at each gate, but something we found reassuring in reality. Lastly, the auto rev matching is awesome and while we couldn\u2019t help but wonder if the car would be better off without it, we actually played around with random downshifts even on straightaways just to marvel at how smooth and accurate they were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now to our favorite bit: the handling. Turn in was very sharp, with no indication of body roll in Sport and Sport+ modes. Comfort mode is exactly that \u2013 a night-and-day difference in suspension set up, directness in the steering wheel, and of course acceleration, but for our four-hour drive to Las Vegas we stayed in that mode with active cruise control and lane detection and saw a very respectable 25 mpg. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires meant a firm, precise turn-in, but a bit noisy. The insulated cabin helped cure much of the road noise though \u2013 Acura goes above and beyond to mention its sound deadening is improved over the Civic Type R, and we agree it\u2019s better. And Individual mode \u2013 a customization setting where you can set the parameters for engine, handling and steering characteristics \u2013 worked exactly how it should and we definitely felt the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All in all, the Integra Type S performed beautifully both on the Strip as well as the freeway, giving high marks for its quick jaunts in town as well as that I-15 road trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ownership<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From many points of view, Acura is trying to sell \u201ca grown-up Honda Civic Type R,\u201d or perhaps \u201ca fun Japanese bruiser you can take for long trips.\u201d It\u2019s a bit of both, but nevertheless we came to the conclusion that it\u2019s a pretty specific person who would love the Integra Type S. And, coincidentally, it was the perfect car and analogy for SEMA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was once the \u201cDisneyland\u201d for car tuners and aftermarket industry heads, SEMA has since evolved into the final word in automotive enthusiasts, and has since grown into something so much bigger than turbo wastegates, slammed air ride suspensions and \u201cNOS.\u201d The audience has also broadened \u2013 the show has seen a huge influx of newcomers especially since it\u2019s now open to the public, but the core audience remains the 35-45 age range who dominated the show a decade earlier. Now, SEMA incorporates the latest showings in technological advancement, blending speed with efficiency, motorsports tuning with safety regulations, style with substance. In essence, SEMA has \u201cgrown up\u201d but hasn\u2019t forgotten what has made it so special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such is the same as the Type S. It\u2019s legacy and heritage was build upon the tuner culture, and a platform that fostered creativity for builds whether it be the \u201cnitrous and neon\u201d direction or \u201cslammed OEM+\u201d style. Today, the Type S is just that \u2013 a clean platform for anyone who wants to build it up, with a crisp set of 20\u201ds under those gigantic widened fenders. Its torque-y turbo and burbling exhaust will appease new adopters, and tuning will open the door for those who want to relive their 20s with a modern-yet-nostalgic drive. It\u2019s the tuner car we know and love, but refined and ready for an audience in 2023 and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And best of all, it now has two extra doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everyone grows up, it\u2019s inevitable. Our tastes change, our needs change, our perspectives change. But do we change as a whole? That\u2019s subjective, as you can take the \u201ctuner\u201d out of the scene, but you can\u2019t take the\u2026 well you know how that goes. Acura rolled out the Integra Type S earlier this year to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[223],"tags":[79],"class_list":["post-18625","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-car","tag-acura"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18625"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18625\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18645,"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18625\/revisions\/18645"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ayoyo.com.cn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}