This Iconic Japanese Sports Car Just Got a Big Tech Upgrade

Yahoo

15 hours ago

Acura treats its best-selling compact sports sedan to fresh aero, a new display and a refined interior.
Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more
After Acura shelved the Integra in 2002, it would be another 21 years before the nameplate would see the market again. Suffice to say, then, that when the Integra did finally reappear in 2023, the release provided Japanese sports car enthusiasts with plenty of cause for celebration.
It may have only been two years since the revival of the Integra, but Acura is already prepared to observe yet another significant milestone. Believe it or not, 2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of the first generation's 1986 debut.
To ring in the occasion, Acura has announced a slew of updates for the upcoming model year. Along with improved tech, the 2026 Integra will also introduce sportier styling, new colors and premium interior options.
Smarter and faster
Per Acura, the Integra currently commands over 40 percent of premium compact sedan sales, so it's clear that the model's nostalgia is helping its success — even despite the presence of two additional doors.
For 2026, Acura hopes to capitalize on that success by giving its iconic sports car a big tech upgrade in the form of a new 9-inch color touchscreen. Along with being two inches larger than the outgoing display, Acura says it brings 'a faster processor for lag-free performance.'
As part of the new infotainment interface, the Integra will also benefit from wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Moreover, Acura has fitted the center console with a wireless phone charger to provide for a cleaner cockpit experience.
Updated aero looks
Though the Integra's styling remains largely unchanged compared to the 2025 model year, Acura hasn't forgotten about the exterior. As part of the update, the upcoming model will introduce several key visual tweaks.
For starters, the Integra A-Spec gains a fresh aero body kit. Between the gloss black side spoilers, some sleek new side sills and a set of gloss black 18-inch wheels, it makes for a much more aggressive look that Acura calls both 'premium' and 'aspirational.'
What's more, the Integra gains new color options in the form of Solar Silver Metallic, Urban Gray Pearl and Double Apex Blue Pearl, and cars optioned in either Double Apex Blue Pearl or Performance Red Pearl will come with a paint-matched grille as standard. If you're a fan of the look, the feature will be available as an add-on for other colors, too, though buyers will also be able to specify a gloss-black grille for something a little subtler.
And that's not all; as part of the overhauled interior, Acura is treating the Integra A-Spec to a new trim pattern on the dash as well as some extended ambient lighting. Complemented by some new suede inserts and stitching options, it makes for a refresh that's subtle in execution but impactful in result.
Familiar fan favorite
Under the hood, the 2026 Integra will retain the same 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder as is found in the current model. Though Acura equips a CVT automatic transmission as standard, buyers will again have the option of a six-speed manual. In practice, this means that output is a consistent 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque for the base and A-Spec models.
At this stage, Acura has yet to announce full specifications for the 2026 Integra lineup. Most notably, there's no mention of what MSRP is set to look like, and the 320-horsepower Integra Type S is conspicuously absent from the announcement
Whether that means Acura has something bigger waiting in the wings remains to be seen. However, given that the 2026 Integra is slated to arrive in showrooms next month, pricing and further details should be available soon.
2026 Acura Integra
Learn More