| Released as a 1987 model, the very first Acura | | | | fun-to-drive, sports coupe. This pricing strategy |
| Integra started what was to become a strong | | | | opened the Acura door to many motorists who |
| following of owners who were drawn in by the | | | | might have otherwise stayed away and kept |
| car's sports appeal and reasonable prices. Based | | | | owners in the fold once they were ready to |
| on the Honda Civic, the Integra successfully | | | | upgrade to a pricier Acura model. |
| brought customers over to the Acura brand and | | | | Highly Popular...With Thieves, That Is |
| has been widely credited with spurring Honda's | | | | One claim to fame that the Integra has is its |
| luxury division to its "legendary" success. In 2002, | | | | appearance on every single "most stolen" vehicle |
| Acura renamed the car the "RSX" to bring the | | | | list. Indeed, as many as seven different model |
| name in line with the alphabet soup designation of | | | | year Integras have appeared on the list as a |
| each of its models. Whatever you call the car, the | | | | swiped Integra is most prized for its parts. As |
| Integra has lived up to all of the hype surrounding | | | | with many imports, all of the individual parts |
| the model. Let's take a closer look a vehicle that | | | | combined can retail for more than three times the |
| has an interesting, if not a bit strange, legacy. | | | | vehicle's price. In addition, the car's powerful |
| From Civic to Acura | | | | engine often finds its way underneath the hood of |
| Honda's decision to launch a luxury car division | | | | less powerful Honda models. Check your local |
| was based on two factors: luxury versions of | | | | chop shop for their selection of truly "hot" Acura |
| Honda automobiles were already being sold in its | | | | Integra parts! |
| home market, Japan, and the American | | | | Curtain Call |
| automotive market was ripe for some | | | | Although the Integra name is synonymous with |
| competition. Honda felt that the US market would | | | | sportiness and value, as is the current RSX |
| more readily accept an all-new Acura brand over | | | | appellation, Acura is discontinuing the model as |
| an upscale Honda, thus the decision was made to | | | | Honda seeks to further separate its two divisions. |
| proceed with Acura. | | | | No longer will a thinly disguised, yet potent Honda |
| The brand's first two models, the Integra and | | | | wear an Acura nameplate. Indeed, Honda has now |
| Legend, were based on existing Honda platforms, | | | | separated the research and development |
| the Civic and Accord, respectively. As odd as this | | | | departments for the two brands in a bid to |
| may seem today, the modified platforms made | | | | differentiate the lines. Apparently, Honda believes |
| sense during the 1980s allowing Acura to | | | | that Acura can now stand on its own and "bridge |
| concentrate on marketing and dealer network | | | | models" such as the RSX will not have a place in |
| development while introducing variations of two | | | | its model line up. |
| highly successful Honda models. | | | | Beyond the RSX, Acura currently has no other |
| True Entry Level Luxury | | | | sport coupe to entice owners. That all may |
| While most luxury brands use the $25,000 figure | | | | change if a rumored two door version of its hot |
| as the price point for their base models, Acura | | | | new TSX sedan is released. If it is, Acura owners |
| has held down the price of the Integra/RSX | | | | will pay a premium over the Integra/RSX price, |
| several thousand dollars less than that threshold. | | | | but receive a car that is even more opulent, |
| Truly, the Integra was never a luxury car, instead | | | | more potent, and better engineered than the |
| it was and is a well equipped, easy-to-tune, | | | | model that it will be replacing. |