An Integra like this, powered by the Civic Type R’s engine, would be near-perfect, but it’ll probably never happen
Before Acura brought back the Integra nameplate in 2022 as a premium-ish compact five-door hatch, designer Jordan Rubinstein-Towler had envisioned what a next-generation model might look like, drawing inspiration from the iconic DC2 generation. The production version that followed has its strengths, but it marks a sharp break from the spirit of its predecessors.
Going Back To Its Coupe Roots
The same, more or less, can be said about the new Prelude. The original iterations earned praise for their sharp front-wheel drive handling, high-revving four-cylinder engines, available four-wheel steering, and manual gearboxes. The latest model, by contrast, borrows the efficient, but less exciting hybrid powertrain from the Civic and skips a traditional manual entirely.
That didn’t stop the same designer behind the amazing 2021 Integra renderings from using the Prelude as a canvas for his latest concept, reimagining it as the Integra fans might have hoped for.
Read: This Is The New Integra Type R Coupe That Acura Should Be Building
We imagine most petrolheads would prefer a Honda bearing the Integra nameplate to keep the legacy of the original alive – and, unlike the five-door model that Acura currently sells, that’s what this rendering depicts. Of course, if anything like this materialized, it would get an Acura badge. Regardless, it adopts the same overall shape as the new Prelude yet refines it and arguably makes it more attractive.
The changes start at the front. The oddly-shaped headlights of the Prelude have been ditched in favor of units that are a little simpler and, in our humble opinion, look much better. Additionally, the odd black strip connecting the lights has been removed, making for an overall more refined design. Elsewhere, the grille has been altered and now stands a little taller, while being slightly narrower.
What Else Makes This Integra Special?
The biggest alterations, though, have been made at the rear. Like many other new cars currently on sale, the Prelude has simple LED taillights that are joined visually by a light bar in a design very similar to the Porsche 911.
Jordan Rubinstein-Towler replaced this setup with slimmer taillights inspired by the DC2-generation Integra, while also swapping the blacked-out rear bumper for body-colored panels and adding a small centrally mounted exhaust.
Unfortunately, neither Honda nor Acura haven’t, has shown any intention of taking the Integra back to its roots, which means this creation will, in all likelihood, remain confined to the digital realm. Still, one can only hope for a future where something like this makes it to production, perhaps with the Civic Type R’s 315-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine paired with a slick six-speed manual gearbox under the hood.
A post shared by Jordan Rubinstein-Towler (@jrubinsteintowler)
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Brad Anderson’s lifelong affair and fascination with cars started young. Before even graduating high school,… Read full bio

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