~Genie in a Throttle~

By Valery Huerta ('23)

Welcome back, everyone! In last month's issue, I wrote an article on the new Z06 Corvette, in which I mentioned a teaser Acura released of a new Integra. The base model and specs seemed to be incredible, maybe even WRX-worthy. This car was hyped up as economical after the base model was estimated to be around 35k with the S model being 45k. Overall, people were highly interested to see how this car would turn out; even though most wanted a sub 50k RWD (rear-wheel-drive) car. People were expecting the Integra to be a good drift car or a good tuner car, but to everyone’s surprise, it ended up being an absolute mom car.

The actual Integra result

Photo courtesy of Motor1.com

The fan-made result

Photo courtesy of AutoIndustriya.com

As you all can see...very disappointing.

This Integra was not only a letdown to me though, but also for fans, especially since older Integra models are gorgeously made. Previous models of the Integra are great tuner cars, mainly due to the part similarity found for performance mods. This car is a four-door hatchback, and although standard turbocharged engines are available with 6-speed manuals, it cannot make up for the lack of appearance. This Integra looks like something Mr. Pade would be seen driving on a Sunday. In case you are unfamiliar with Mr. Pade, he’s the science coordinator in NR. Jokes aside, he’s a great teacher and a wonderful person. Wonderful, unlike this new Integra.

Not only is the appearance of the Integra extremely unappealing, but the specs aren't great either. It's running on a 1.5 liter, inline-four engine seen on the Civic Si, and it pushes about 200hp. In general, people were very upset after the release of the new Integra. Many people preferred the concept idea and fan-made versions of the Integra, which ended up looking way better than the real thing. Overall, I'm very disappointed with its release, but if you're someone looking for a family car, or something to pick your kids up in, this is the perfect car for you. For everyone who drives to school, especially if your car’s drivetrain isn't AWD, be careful out there and drive safely.

Banner courtesy of Motor1.com

Cover photo courtesy of MotorTrend