1989 ACURA Integra Coupe 1.8L 5MT (140 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The second generation of the Acura Integra was bigger and heavier than its predecessor and that brought some disappointment from its buyers. But its good handling and sporty engines brought them back.

With an increase in the sport-compact market, Honda tried to stay on top with the little Acura Integra. It shared some components with the Honda Civic, but it was the styling and some particular engines that made it more desirable than the popular Civic, despite its higher sticker price. In terms of volumes, it didn’t count when compared to its Honda sibling. In terms of smiles/miles, it was way ahead.

The wedged-shaped exterior, with windows almost flush to the body panels, the Integra was a coupe with a liftback. The slim and wide headlights were different than other cars on the market. In the back, the squared taillights were integrated into the rear panel.

Inside, the low-mounted dashboard allowed a better view of the road. The four-spoke steering wheel looked carried away from the Civic. The gauges definitely were, but the shape of the instrument cluster was slightly different. The seats were bolstered for better side support during high-speed cornering, a chapter where the Integra excelled.

Under the hood, the Japanese engineers installed several gasoline engine versions, including a 1.7-liter unit that offered 160 hp on the GSR model. The basic version was the 1.8-liter unit with 20 hp less than the GSR. Both versions were mated to a 5-speed manual, but the GSR featured shorter gear ratios, for a better quarter-mile run.