| In 1986, Honda launched Acura to create a separate | | | | In 1997, the limited-edition Acura Integra Type R |
| luxury brand to appeal to the upscale automotive | | | | debuted. Available only as a coupe, the Type R |
| market outside Japan, especially in the US. Acura's first | | | | focused purely on performance , featuring a |
| model, the Integra, was a sporty hatchback that | | | | high-revving 195-hp version of the 1.8-liter engine. Lighter |
| highlighted Acura's focus on engineering excellence | | | | parts and body panels lowered the Type R's weight |
| and build quality. Integra's balance between reliability | | | | by nearly 100 pounds. It included tweaked Acura |
| and performance gave it a quick headstart, aside from | | | | Integra parts such as a tuned suspension system, |
| making it an instant worthy competitor for the more | | | | better brakes, a limited-slip differential, and a specially |
| expensive German imports like the Volkswagen Golf | | | | designed close-ratio five-speed manual transmission. In |
| Gti. Shortly after its introduction, Integra immediately | | | | 2001, the Acura Integra Type-R won an Editors' Most |
| stamped its mark in the automotive market. In fact, it | | | | Wanted award for Best Sports Coupe (FWD/AWD) |
| was included by Car and Driver magazine on its annual | | | | Under $30,000. It was also named as the best |
| Ten Best list (1987) - the first of six more citations in | | | | front-wheel-drive drivers' car ever by Evo Magazine in |
| just a span of 10 years. | | | | 2006. |
| The Acura Integra amassed considerable following in | | | | Integra showed that Acura - and Honda for that |
| the coming years of its existence. Because of its | | | | matter - has enough muscles to compete with the |
| 'modifiable' Acura Integra parts, the car has been | | | | global luxury car manufacturers in terms of design, |
| widely popular among custom car enthusiasts. Acura | | | | quality, and comforts inside the cabin. As Acura |
| introduced its variable valve timing system (VTEC) for | | | | solidified its place in the near-luxury market, however, |
| Integra's use in the early '90s. The Integra was the first | | | | the company adjusted its marketing strategies. It opted |
| car (after the NSX) to carry a VTEC engine. This | | | | for alphanumeric names. In 2001, Acura changed |
| system, along with the base Acura Integra parts, | | | | Integra's name to RSX, marking the end of Integra's |
| helped the car utilize every single drop of power out of | | | | tenure in the US. Despite this, Integra's earlier |
| its small 4-cylinder engine, while maintaining excellent | | | | generations remained the favorite among young |
| fuel efficiency. | | | | enthusiasts. |