Ford F-150 Lightning vs.The Acura RSX is a successful sport coupe that was introduced into the Acura lineup in April 2001 to replace the previous model Integra. The BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept Shows Us What the Future of Car Tech Looks Like.The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale Is Gorgeous, Exciting and All Sold-Out.Specs for the Stylish, Refreshed 2024 Sonata Even though it was a relatively affordable front-wheel-drive coupe, the Type R produced more horsepower per liter than any other naturally aspirated car in the United States before it. With high-performance versions like the Type R and the Type S, it felt like you were getting something special. Neither the RSX nor the Integra is a halo car like the supercar-beating NSX, but both models made high-performance driving feel much more attainable to average buyers. The 6.2-liter V8 in the Corvette puts out 490 hp (495 hp with the Z51 package), but if it were using Integra Type R math (108.3 hp per liter) then it would be pushing out more than 670 horses. To put that in context among modern high-tech sports cars, consider the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette - the Edmunds Top Rated Sports Car. But when it's coming from a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, it feels positively heroic. The Type R's horsepower rating of 195 hp might not seem like a lot by today's standards. If they made the Integra Type R new today, I'd buy two.

The Type R I drove had a mere 5,500 miles on the odometer so it ran like new, with quick shifts and precise steering that's truly difficult to find in the current batch of high-performance front-drive coupes. Rev the Type R all the way up to 8,400 rpm and you can scarcely believe that pieces of the engine haven't flown out of the top of the hood. This was my first time driving a Type R, however, and just a short amount of time behind the wheel proved to me the extra worth of this high-performance version.

Personal note: I've owned a 1996 Acura Integra for more than a decade, driving it daily for years and modifying it constantly. But after having my fill of modern Type S vehicles, I couldn't resist a go in the Type R. I don't blame the folks at Acura HQ for wanting to remind us just how special those original Type S vehicles were. The seats are still comfortable, the VTEC system still makes fun noises, and the interior still feels upscale, even by 2021 standards.Īcura knows just how much the Integra Type R and its spiritual descendant, the RSX Type S, meant to the automotive world. It's larger than the Type R, but the fun-to-drive spirit is still there. All that engineering meant it had a smoother idle, better throttle response at low rpm, and a more consistent power delivery.Ĭompared to today's crop of much-larger compact cars, the RSX feels nimble, agile and easier to drive than most.

It was the first Acura vehicle to use i-VTEC, an 'intelligent' valve-control system that used variable valve timing, and a camshaft phase control system called VTC (variable timing control). It also had its fair share of game-changing engine tech when it was new. The RSX Type S was plenty powerful in its own right, putting out 201 hp and revving to an astonishing 8,000 rpm. I ruminated over my options and reached for the RSX keys first. The lineup included the 2001 CL Type S, 2007 TL Type S, 2006 RSX Type S, 2021 NSX, 2021 TLX A-Spec, 2021 MDX A-Spec and a 2001 Integra Type R. This event, however, combined vehicles both new and old in what Acura called a Heritage Drive. Typically, automakers invite journalists to drive new and previously undriven vehicles. They gave us special access for an afternoon along one of California's most famous roads: Angeles Crest Highway. Acura recently hosted an event and brought out several vehicles from its automotive archives - but these cars weren't just for show.

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