The 2023 Integra has largely failed to generate the stir from extensive-time fans that Acura experienced hoped it would. Even so, all is not shed Acura could maybe regain some road cred if they took the Integra racing, like they did with the Integras of the 80s and 90s. Manufacturer head Jon Ikeda would like to take the ‘Teg to the monitor, but it all relies upon on regardless of whether the management at the American Honda mothership permits it.

“We want to race this factor, but it’s possible the Honda PR and internet marketing guys may possibly have distinct suggestions,” Ikeda instructed Street & Monitor. That’s due to the fact the Integra is mainly a 2022 Civic Si with a hatchback sort element and new sheetmetal. Honda previously sells a Civic Variety R race motor vehicle in many tunes for different courses in the TC America touring vehicle collection. That was primarily based on prior-generation Civic, but in all chance will go on the system with the hottest gen. A racing Integra, then, would feel redundant.

On the other hand, Acura has been very active in motorsports, from 24 Hrs of Daytona-winning IMSA DPi prototypes to NSX GT3 race autos to Pikes Peak hill-climbers. Even Honda’s F1 automobiles have been re-branded with Acura livery at past month’s U.S. Grand Prix in Austin.

And it is really not like the Integra would not have a extended record in motorsports. The nameplate as competed in various North American collection from SCCA Professional Rally to IMSA sedan to the Import Drag Racing Championships. Maybe the most well-recognised Acura Integras to race, even though, were being Peter Cunningham’s white and neon orange RealTime Racing Form Rs that dominated the SpeedVision Planet Obstacle championships about Y2K.

Ikeda has said right before that he desires Acura to be the functionality brand name of Honda, and a rumored Integra Style S is in the performs with a more powerful engine, quite possibly a version of the approaching Civic Sort R’s mill. “We’re the general performance division of Honda,” Ikeda emphasised to R&T, “So we’re not heading to shy absent from Honda, you know? We are going to just have a small bit additional enjoyment.”

Though an admirable goal, the brand will struggle if it’s basically the general performance arm of Honda. It has to be about effectiveness autos, period of time. That was component of Acura’s magic in the 90s…