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 suppose Acura is promoting the 2024 Integra Sort S brief 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 this can be a road drive as a substitute of a monitor drive as a result of Acura is touting the Integra Sort S as a extra mature road 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.

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

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 right down to the dimensions and model.

The engine is the one aspect 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 provides 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 sturdy 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 exhausting is difficult, as energy goes solely by way of a 6-speed handbook transmission to the entrance wheels and Acura gives no launch management operate.

I strive 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 once 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 at least one aspect 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 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 levels, because the valve opens at larger 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 motive force seat, the engine actually makes its indignant 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 brief throws, optimistic engagement, and an ideal really feel by way of its metallic and leather-based shift knob. My solely grievance is a light-weight clutch with a excessive engagement level that requires a couple of shifts to get used to.

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

Acura Integra Sort S: Entrance-drive surprise

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

Acura upgrades the usual Integra to get there. In becoming the completely different suspension parts from the Civic Sort R underneath 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 larger 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 larger 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 middle. 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 drive, they usually do all of it effectively.

The open canyon roads I expertise later within the day reveal a lot however not the entire 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 way of ess turns, and places its energy down effectively when accelerating out of corners because of the large tires and limited-slip diff.  

These tires can solely accomplish that a lot, although, so balancing the burden for turning, accelerating, and braking is necessary. 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 way of the flip. When exiting a nook too quick, it’ll run large, however rather less throttle will get it again on monitor.

That is all simple to really feel because of slightly little bit of physique lean, regardless of the damper setting, by way 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 gives an on a regular basis comfy experience high quality, Sport+ borders on exhausting over bumps, and Sport is the candy spot for twisty roads.

Total, the Sort S feels prefer it has all of the efficiency of the Sort R. It could 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 also be mirrored in its appears to be like and gear.

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

Acura Integra Sort S: The grown-up selection

The Integra Sort S sports activities a wide range 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 Sort S a purposeful stance that doesn’t stray too far into boy racer territory thanks principally to the dearth of a Civic Sort R-like rear wing. Which 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 smart restraint.

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort 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 provided by different producers. Greater people will respect that, however smaller individuals 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 includes 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 Crimson, Ebony, or Orchid inside colours.

Acura additionally outfits the Sort S with luxurious automobile ranges of ordinary 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.

Customary security options encompass blind-spot screens, rear cross-traffic alerts, computerized 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 worth of $51,995 together with an $1,195 vacation spot price. That’s about $10,000 greater than the Civic Sort R, which received the Motor Authority Greatest Automotive To Purchase 2023 award. Nevertheless, the Integra Sort S is extra civil than the Civic and higher outfitted. It may additionally seemingly 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 Greatest Automotive To Purchase 2024 testing later this yr.

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