1997 Acura Integra Type R – Peak of Front-Drive Performance
The 1997 Integra Type R Stretched Front-Wheel Drive Limits
The 1997 Acura Integra Type R coupe took front-wheel drive performance to new heights. It paired refined suspension with a 195-hp VTEC engine. This allowed the Type R legend to be born.
Everything on the Integra Type R focuses on speed. A hand-built 1.8L makes 160 lb-ft of torque at a screaming 8,000 rpm. At just 2,600 pounds, the Type R boasts immense power density. An advanced double-wishbone suspension soaks up bumps. This keeps the Type R glued during hard cornering.
The Integra Evolved into an Iconic Track Machine
Launched in 1992, the GS-R model brought performance credibility to the Integra range. By 1997, the Type R took abilities several steps further.
Ideal weight distribution, limited-slip differential, and firm suspension tuning were all track-ready. Impossibly smooth Brembo brakes help rapidly shed speed entering corners. Communicative steering allows precise dancing along twisty roads.
Everything amplifies the connection between humans and machines. From perfectly bolstered Recaro seats to strategically placed mesh apertures. An easy-shifting alloy gearstick fires off smooth shifts. The Type R formula elicits pure joy pushing limits on a winding road or racetrack.
The Type R Legacy Continues Today
With a huge aftermarket scene around bolstering performance, one can still find modified Integras winning races today. As the new 2023 Type R arrives, owners reunite to celebrate the original. Low mileage 1997 examples trade hands for unbelievable sums due to collectibility.
Over 20 years later, the Type R bloodline continues with Civic variants carrying the badge. But to many Honda fans, the 1997 Acura Integra Type R remains the definitive embodiment.
Its stratospheric VTEC powerband paired with a tenacious cornering grip makes driving this coupe a religious experience even today. The limited production original Type R forever stands atop Mount Olympus as a prime example of pushing boundaries.
