By Kamil Kaluski
The 2026 Acura Integra Type S seemingly exists to target Gen-X enthusiasts who spent their youth hooning CR-Xs, Integras, Preludes, and various swapped Civics. Acura clearly realizes we now have adult money and they built this, and the Civic Type R, for us. It may be a decade too late but we all should be glad that it is here.
Unlike the original DC2R, this one is not lighter than its pedestrian version. It’s actually heavier by about 70 pounds. But that weight buys a lot of good: a 320-horsepower engine, wider tracks, huge Brembo brakes, adaptive dampers, and a center exit triple-tipped exhaust that lets us enjoy the silence of old age or scream like we’re seventeen again.
The Insides
Pop the hood and you will find a small turbo mounted directly to a cylinder head with an integrated exhaust manifold. This is designed to reduce boost lag and let the turbo spool instantly. Honda ditched the beloved old-school two-stage VTEC crossover of the B18C noise for continuously variable valve timing; it works better, if less dramatically. You get a flat torque curve that pulls right from idle. They even threw in a BMW-style dual-mass flywheel to make the engine feel shockingly civilized. This also means that there are many opportunities to ruin it with cheap aftermarket parts.
Inside, the six-speed shifter remains a masterclass in mechanical precision. It is the best shifter on the market. Acura mercifully kept three physical knobs for climate control, a revolutionary concept in 2026. They also ditched the rear middle seat, turning the back row into a two-person lounge wrapped in hard leather. Out on the road, the dual-axis front suspension works pure dark magic to prevent the front tires from wrestling the steering wheel out of your hands every time the tach clears 5000rpm.
The Drive
Throw it into a corner and… it will turn. Really, it will just grip and grip until you power out, tipping your hat to a proper mechanical limited-slip differential. Between the magic of this front-end geometry and the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, the cornering limits of this Teggy vastly surpass my skills and cajones.
Is it faster off the line than a generic electric blob with four wheels?
Absolutely not. But if you care about human connection, three pedals, and mechanical feedback, this thing delivers in spades. Check out the video above of me yapping about this amazing car for fifteen minutes. If your left knee can still handle a clutch pedal in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Acura built this masterpiece just for you.
Specs:
Engine: 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4
Power: 320 hp @ 6500 RPM
Torque: 310 lb-ft @ 2600-4000 RPM
Transmission: 6-speed manual with Helical LSD
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Weight: 3219 lbs
Length: 186.0 inches
Width: 74.8 inches
Height: 55.4 inches
Wheelbase: 107.7 inches
Track (Front/Rear): 64.0 / 63.5 inches
Wheels: 19 x 9.5 inches
Tires: 265/30ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Brakes (Front): 13.8-inch ventilated discs with 4-piston Brembo calipers
Brakes (Rear): 12.0-inch solid discs
Cargo Space: 24.3 cu ft
Fuel Tank: 12.4 gal
EPA MPG: 21 City / 28 Highway / 24 Combined
Jeff Glucker