Acura Scores with New Integra, whether you like it or not.

Heeltoe Corner Club

Few people are thoroughly thrilled with the new Integra. The look doesn't "feel" Integra. But here is the thing, your disappointment was totally expected. I predicted it in episode 3. The 5 door profile, for sure, was going to turn off a lot of the DC2/DC5 fanboys.

Acura is pretty proud of it, and honestly, they should be. They are making a more stylish version of a Civic Si, right down to the manual trans and turbocharged engine. This chassis promises to build on what makes the Civic so epic. As a suped-up Civic, the Integra is the same basic thing it always has been.

But so many can't see past the 15-year hiatus and realize that the time for the DC2/DC5 body is just passed. Acura isn't really trying to make a lifestyle model here. This one is about selling cars. The Acura sold 83,000 Integras in 1990. The in 2000, Acura sold barely 26,000.

In 2020, Honda sold 260,000 Civics. Acura would love to have big numbers for the Integra, and going more mainstream is clearly the direction to that broader audience in the 2020s.

Plus, there are all of 28 car models available with a manual transmission. Acura is adding one to the list with the Integra.

Like it or not, this Integra will likely be a real success.