New Acura Integra Type S is a slightly chilled Civic Type R

The tell-tail signs? At the front, the rather purposeful looking vent in the bonnet, echoing a similar treatment on the Civic Type R. At the side, broadened arches accommodating the enhanced Type R chassis. At the rear, three large exhausts in the centre, trumpeting the same tune as the Type R.

Otherwise, in terms of looks, it’s all new Integra, which is to say it’s a hatchback-come-saloon coupe with a swooping rear end and sharp lighting. Being the sporty Type S, it also gets a fairly substantial diffuser, an aggressive front bumper and as above, puffed-out arches. Indeed the ‘Teg Type S is a full 3.5 and 1.9 inches wider in track than the standard car at the front and back respectively. The Type S is 2.8-inches wider at the fenders (arches) in general and they’re filled by 19-inch wheels available in a copper metallic spec. In the wing department, there’s very little to speak of, which is no bad thing by our reckoning. A token lip on the boot adds sportiness without being garish. If you want a little extra, carbon bits for the boot lid and mirror caps are available.

The tech specs and figures are predictably familiar. A 2.0-litre turbocharged VTEC engine delivers 320PS (235kW) and 420Nm (310lb ft), delivering power to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. For what it’s worth, these match the American Civic’s numbers, not ours, which are slightly stronger.

The dual-axis front suspension with adaptive dampers carries over too (partly informing those arches), as do the Brembo brakes, meaning that save for bespoke calibration, it should drive at least as well as the Civic.

While actual performance figures haven’t been revealed, it’s safe to say the identical hardware and similar kerb weights will yield similar results. That means we can expect the Type S to hit 62mph in 5.4 seconds, on the way to a 171mph top speed.

On the inside, it’s very Civic, which in the case of the new FL5 continues to be no bad thing. It’s a much nicer place in which to find yourself, though whether Acura buyers will agree remains to be seen. A Smartphone connectivity-enabled nine-inch high-definition infotainment touch display is standard, as is the 10.2-inch driver display. The Type S does get a stronger sound system, with 16 speakers compared to the Civic’s 12-speaker system.

Familiar to those who have driven the Type R will be the teardrop gear shifter, though the seats are decidedly less aggressive and garish. A good or bad thing again, depending on who you are and what you want. We even see a bit of NSX in the Teg’s seats…

So the dividing points are the looks and badge – it’s not identical to the Civic to look at after all. The Civic itself isn’t an ugly, or cheap-looking car, mind, so in terms of image, only the Honda badge is on the table and up for debate. Depending on who you are, the Type R badge may carry more kudos on its own than Acura, Integra and Type S.

What will be interesting is how they divide on price. No figures for the Type S have been given yet but for reference, the US Type R costs from $44,390, while the standard Integra is priced from $33,300. We expect the Type S to start from between $45,000 and $50,000. We’ll know more by the time the Type S goes on sale in June.