Acura has confirmed that the upcoming Integra will be available with a six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment.
In addition, we know that the car will be available in a four-door hatchback body configuration.
The Integra will make its debut in 2022 and will go on sale in the United States the following year.
Acura is continuing to drip-feed information about the Integra's resurgence, and the latest piece of information is sure to please fans. For the first time since the Integra debuted in 2007, the 2023 model will be offered with a manual transmission—a six-speed, to be precise. A photo shows the shift knob and a portion of the car's center console, and a video clip includes an engine sound that suggests the vehicle will be powered by a turbo-four engine.
According to our expectations, the Integra will share many components with the Honda Civic, which opens the door to a few different engine configurations for the new entry-luxury model. The turbo 1.5-liter inline-four from the base Civic and the Si is most likely to be used, though we're hoping that Honda will opt to use the more powerful turbo 2.0-liter unit from the Civic Type R in a Type S version of the Integra that is more focused on performance. Both of these engines are already available with stick-shift transmissions in Civic models, so there is precedent for a row-your-own gearbox to be used with these engines.
According to the teaser photos, the Integra is expected to have its own distinct styling, as well as a more spacious interior layout when compared to the Honda Civic Si. The only body style that has been confirmed thus far is a four-door hatchback. It's likely that all-wheel drive will be available, as many of its entry-luxury competitors do. However, we're not sure if you'll be able to combine AWD with a manual transmission in this case.
More information on the Integra will be released as it becomes available, and we should see the vehicle in person sometime early in 2022 before it goes on sale later that same year.