Why did Acura stop making the Integra?
Acura stopped selling the Integra in North America after the early 2000s, replacing it with the RSX as part of a broader lineup refresh. The Integra name was revived in 2023 for a new Civic-based hatchback, signaling a renewed interest in sporty compact cars. This article explains the reasons behind the old discontinuation and what changed with the newer revival.
Why the Integra era ended in the early 2000s
Several factors converged to end the Integra’s original run. Below is a snapshot of the main forces at work during the transition.
- Sales performance and market demand: The Integra’s sales momentum slowed in the late 1990s, while buyers gravitated toward newer designs and other compact options.
- Product overlap and platform strategy: Acura introduced the RSX as a direct successor that shared a Civic-based platform, allowing cost savings and streamlined engineering at the expense of maintaining two similar models in the same segment.
- Brand positioning and portfolio priorities: Acura shifted toward a more premium, performance-focused lineup, and the Integra’s positioning did not align as cleanly with that broader strategy as other models did.
- Cost and efficiency considerations: Consolidating under a common platform reduced development and production costs, making a separate Integra-specific program harder to justify.
In sum, dwindling demand, a strategic push toward platform-sharing with the Civic, and a reoriented brand image all contributed to retire the Integra in the early 2000s, with the RSX filling the sporty-hatchback slot for several years thereafter.
The 2023 revival: bringing the Integra name back to life
More than a decade after the Integra disappeared from U.S. showrooms, Acura reintroduced the name in 2023 as a modern, Civic-based compact hatchback. The reboot reflected nostalgia-driven demand and a renewed emphasis on practical, sporty small cars in a shifting market landscape. A high-performance Type S variant followed later, signaling Acura’s intent to broaden the sporty appeal of the name again.
To help readers understand how the new model differs from the old one, here are the key angles driving the revival.
- Platform and technology: The new Integra rides on Acura’s current Civic platform, allowing modern safety, infotainment, and efficiency tech.
- Body style and practicality: It returns as a 5-door hatch, combining sportiness with practical cargo space for daily use.
- Powertrain and performance emphasis: The revived Integra offers modern turbocharged power with a sport-tuned chassis, and a more capable Type S variant was introduced to widen its performance appeal.
- Brand positioning and nostalgia: Reusing the Integra name leverages heritage while aligning with Acura’s current emphasis on driving excitement and premium features in a compact package.
In short, the revival was about balancing consumer demand for a stylish, capable compact with Acura’s current engineering and branding priorities, rather than simply reissuing a dated model.
Summary
The original Integra era ended in the early 2000s as Acura realigned its lineup around the RSX and a broader platform-sharing strategy, driven by sales trends and brand positioning. The Integra name resurfaced in 2023 as a modern Civic-based hatchback, reflecting renewed interest in sporty, practical compact cars and a desire to connect with a new generation of buyers through a familiar name. The introduction of a high-performance Type S variant further signaled Acura’s commitment to keeping the Integra relevant in today’s market.
