Acura achieved a significant milestone this year, and to commemorate the occasion, their team was tasked with building something truly innovative. Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) chose to give a first-generation Integra a makeover in order to relive some of its golden days in the late 1980s, when it dominated championships. The finished project will soon be on display at the upcoming Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, where it hopes to set quick lap times.
Acura’s brand debuted in the United States in 1986, alongside the Legend and this same Integra model. Honda was looking to make a statement in the premium market, and it succeeded admirably, beating Lexus to the punch. The Integra rapidly showed itself on the road, as well as on the track. The number 48 Comptech Integra was the true MVP of the IMSA International Sedan Series. Between 1987 and 1990, it won numerous manufacturer and driver titles, which are an important part of Acura’s past.
- BUILD A RACING LEGEND – Boys and girls ages 9 years old and up can construct the LEGO Speed Champions Porsche 911 GT3 RS Super Car (77239) building set and collect this iconic sports car model
- AUTHENTIC PORSCHE DETAILS – Young builders can recreate the real-life vehicle's signature elements including the famous rear wing, air intake features on the hood, distinctive headlights, and novelty rims
- 1 PORSCHE DRIVER MINIFIGURE – Kids can place the driver minifigure with helmet and red Porsche Track Day Experience outfit behind the wheel to stage their own track-day racing action
Honda Racing Corporation set out to produce a competitive racing machine using the Integra’s clean first-generation shell. First, they gave it a fresh coat of paint in a striking color, Rio Red Metallic. They also added some lightweight Mugen wheels to give it a classic look and assist save weight. Maintaining a low unsprung weight is essential.
The next step was to get the car to handle and stop properly. They installed some Tein coilovers to aid the suspension handle bumps and curves. An adjustable panhard rod provides a little more tuning flexibility. Carbotech pads and braided stainless steel lines are used on the brakes to provide a more consistent feel and performance. To take things even farther, they manually installed the brake system and steering rack. To top it all off, Yokohama ADVAN semi-slick tyres grip the road, since they’re an important part of the overall package.
The engine, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder D16A1, was completely rebuilt and received a few improvements along the way. They repainted the block in Quartz Silver and installed a Monsoon engine management unit, stainless steel long-tube headers, and a custom Borla exhaust system. A coil-on-plug ignition was also installed to increase reliability. They also refreshed the five-speed manual transmission and added a Torsen limited slip differential to send power to the front wheels as rapidly as possible when needed.
To save weight, the interior of the Integra has been stripped down to its minimal essentials. The dashboard remains, but that’s it. The rear seats, carpeting, door panels, and audio were all removed. In its place is a unique roll cage for further safety and stiffness, while the OMP racing seats and red six-point harnesses keep the driver and passenger secure. This series of upgrades transforms the Integra into a car that can be pushed aggressively on a circuit.
This particular tribute to the Integra will be on display during the 51st Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach from April 17 to 19. Acura has a special relationship to the area, and it will be exciting to witness the vehicle in action. It demonstrates that the organization is still proud of its legacy while also focusing on performance. 40 years later, Acura is constantly demonstrating why the Integra name is still remembered.
