By Keith Morgan
The 2024 Acura Integra Type-S has eye pleasing sleek looks but there’s little on first sight to distinguish it from its sibling trims.
So that makes the Type-S something of a wolf in sheep’s clothing because this four-door-liftback sedan – that descriptor sure makes it sound sedate – is all about performance. It’s scooping awards with gay abandon; notably it figured prominently in the prestigious Car & Driver magazine’s recent 10 Best Cars awards.
Do the accolades matter to potential owners? I’m often skeptical about the value of such awards. However, when it comes to performance car fans, the resulting sales numbers of similarly acclaimed models and my conversations with myriad of speedsters suggests to me that in this market segment they are important.
So let’s talk power. Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, generating an impressive 320 horsepower and that’s a 120 hp increase of the previous version just one short year ago. It also boasts an eyebrow raising 310 lb.-ft. of torque. Regular Reader knows I rarely talk about torque because it’s normally only of interest to motor heads. Well, I’m on their track with this car so it matters and conveys the forward thrust you can expect on the highway pre-ticketing. Just kidding.
I must say, after almost a year of test driving cars equipped with auto transmissions, I must admit the short-throw six-speed manual tranny took me back to a day when I had hair. Senior caution prevented the excessive chance taking of my youth but fellow Fraser Valley drivers on Highway 1 did eat my dust a few times when I ventured past the posted speed limit (accidentally, of course) with great ease. Off the highway on the twisty lanes it showed off impressive road holding and cornering.
OK, the handbrake is on and I’m outside checking its looks one more time. The company bumph waxes lyrical about taking the “sleek styling to the next level with a bold and aggressive wide body design, dynamic centre-mounted triple exhaust outlets, large front air intakes and rear diffuser that immediately communicate its high-performance capabilities.” Yeah, ok.
It seems the throaty roar of the triple exhaust pipes sure excites some of my younger colleagues.
In my enthusiastic claim that the Type-S was all about performance I perhaps erred a shade. It’s also a premium sedan inside.
Heated front sport seats and heated steering wheel are welcome as is the “10.2-inch Acura Precision Cockpit™ Driver Information Interface and Head-Up Display.” Ahem, 9-inch screen and instrument cluster. Forgive, my sarcasm, it is indeed easy to operate, especially for Tablet fans.
Additional likes for me were the Wireless Apple CarPlay (Android Auto compatibility), wireless phone charging and a 16-speaker ELS STUDIO 3D premium audio system are also standard.
I’m getting weary of carrying around multiple cables with various USB variants so maximum approval from me. Third World problems, eh?
I didn’t get the chance to do an extended journey but a couple of hours at the wheel in the 12-way adjustable seat didn’t bring on my aching back. Kids in the back fell asleep so that’s testimony to the comfort of the rear seats. Or maybe Papa’s boring monologue put them to sleep. By the way, it’s a 2+2 so no squeezing in a third back seat passenger.
We’ve talked a lot of numbers so far and we’re not done yet. The fuel economy of this speedy wolf will vary dramatically depending on the weight of your right foot. However, the boasted economy is 11.1/8.3/9.9 L/100kms (city/hwy/combined). That’s around 35-plus per cent less fuel-efficient than the 1.5-litre engine powered Integra trims but it’s the price you pay to return to your errant you.
Talking about paying, the Type-S has a recommended sticker price of $58,329 the rest of the line starts at close on $42,000.
keithrmorgan@hotmail.com
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