Acura celebrates 40th anniversary with 1986 Integra racecar tribute

The Integra cemented Acura's status as a reliable and precision-crafted driving experience

Believe it or not, Acura is four decades old, and it's celebrating this achievement in a big way.

The first-generation Acura Integra was first launched back in 1986 and quickly became an icon, seamlessly blending everyday practicality with a sporty edge and helping establish Acura’s performance legacy. To commemorate its 40th anniversary, Acura will debut the Integra 40 Racer, a tribute to the Comptech #48 Integra that dominated the IMSA race series from 1987 to 1990 at the Long Beach Grand Prix on April 19.

The Rio Red Metallic hatchback is a love letter to the 1980s race scene. Under the hood sits a period-correct D16A1 1.6-liter, DOHC, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine. This “brown top” engine has been modded with a Monsoon ECU, coil-on-plug conversion, and a stainless steel 4-2-1 long-tube header and Borla exhaust system. Power goes through a five-speed manual transmission and a Torsen limited-slip differential, keeping the driver fully engaged.

True to its race car roots, the Integra 40 Racer features manual steering and brakes, Tein coilovers with an adjustable panhard bar. It rolls on a set of rare 14-inch Mugen CF-48 wheels wrapped in Yokohama Advan-A052 semi-slick tires for traction. Inside, the stripped interior sports a full roll cage, OMP racing seats, and a six-point safety harness that completes the track-ready package.

The tribute isn’t just about performance; it’s about legacy. Acura’s journey began in the U.S. on March 27, 1986, with the Legend and Integra. While rivals Lexus and Infiniti focused solely on luxury, Acura blended refinement with sporty appeal. The Integra became a template for future performance icons like the Integra Type-R and NSX, helping define Acura’s distinct identity in the automotive world.

Today, the Integra still represents one of the few bright spots in a shrinking market for fun yet practical cars. But the brand itself faces uncertainty. Plans for next-generation EVs, including an RSX-inspired crossover, have been canceled, and RDX production is on hold, leaving Acura in a holding pattern as it prepares for its next 40 years.

With the Integra 40 Racer, however, Acura reminds fans of its racing pedigree and proves that even after four decades, it still knows how to thrill.

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