Team Acura Parts Blog

For fifteen years, Acura’s very first model had a short yet sweet existence.

The Acura Integra, a small and sporty vehicle carrying Acura’s topnotch engineering quality, was among the first models launched by Acura. The Integra debuted on the same year when Acura was born. The Integra, along with the Acura Legend, was introduced as part of the brand new Acura division. At that time, Acura was built up as a new division of Honda that appeals to the upscale market.

The Acura Integra, which was based on the Honda Civic, integrated sporty features with high-performance and light weight engines. It was the smallest and least expensive among Acura cars. After its first generation of cars was released on March 27, 1986, no wonder the Integra immediately became successful in terms of units sold.

The very first Integra cars were three-door and five-door hatchbacks that had 1.6-liter DOHC engine with 16 valves and four cylinders, generating 113 horsepower and 99 pounds of torque. It also included a five-speed manual/four-speed automatic transmission.

The 1991 Acura Integra paved the way for the second generation of the Integra. This version was available as a three-door hatchback and a four-door sedan. The 1991 Acura Integra was powered by a 1.8-liter in-line four-cylinder engine that produced 130 horsepower. The next year, a high-performance GS-R trim was introduced. The new technology came with a 1.7 I4 with VTEC technology, a 8000 rpm redline, and generated 160 horsepower.

1991 Acura Integra

The Integra sports sedan, the third and last generation of the Acura Integra was produced from 1994 to 2001. These cars were considered the best front-wheel drive vehicles of their kind.

Another milestone for the Acura Integra happened in 1997, when the limited edition Acura Integra Type R was launched. The Type R started a legacy in race car technology. It had a 1.8-liter engine rated at a whopping 195 horsepower, which was more than any average engine produced in the United States at that time. With only 500 Acura Integra Type R produced, the car had sports-style seats and new front and rear spoilers.

2002 Acura RSX

In 2001, Acura dropped the Integra name in the United States and replaced it with the new RSX. The Acura RSX still had the similar design and packaging as that of its predecessor Integra. The new model, however, offered new styling, more luxury, and more power.

Source:
Edmunds.com
Musclecarclub.com

Last year, Acura marked its 20th year of being at the “forefront of innovation.” Now, it is worth taking a sneak peek of the past 20 years of the well-loved Japanese car brand.

Ten years of research and development had led to the founding of Acura, which would soon be known for carving the niche for luxury cars.

Since its inception in 1986, Acura has prided itself of creating a range of luxury vehicles—from performance coupes and sedans, to the MDX sports utility vehicle (SUV) and NSX sports car. Acura also holds the credit for building a new and groundbreaking automobile division, as well as being the first luxury vehicle brand from Japan.

For creating innovative and beautifully-crafted vehicles, Acura has been reaping recognitions from the start. Only a year after its founding, Acura earned the esteemed Import Car of the Year (1987) award for the Acura Legend model. That same year, the Acura Integra was among the Ten Best list.

Acura’s innovations are well-reflected by the cars it manufactures. In the late 1990s, Acura came up with the NSX sport coupe—tagged as the “best sports car ever built” by the Motor Trend magazine. This Acura model made breakthroughs by blending passenger comfort and reliability in a sports car.

Moving to the into the SUV arena, Acura unveiled the celebrated MDX—a crossover vehicle integrated with technological features, still with the distinct Acura luxuriousness. In 2001, the Acura MDX won the Sport/Utility of the Year award from Motor Trend.

The redesigned Acura TL, which appeals to technological savvy customers, offered features such as Bluetooth and DVD-Audio in 2003. The following year, the Acura RL (2005 model) carried the features that surpass those of others: the most powerful Acura engine, North America’s first real-time traffic feature, and North America’s most advanced all-wheel drive system (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive or SH-AWD). The SH-AWD system allows for a more stable and precise maneuvering and cornering of the vehicle.

Today, the most prominent among Acura’s lineup is the Acura RDX, a small luxury crossover sedan that incorporates the functionality, performance, and versatility of an SUV.

For such innovations coupled with eye-catching design and awesome engine power, Acura has proved to be the choice of the new generation of car enthusiasts.

Sources:

Acura
Conceptcarz.com