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THE REDESIGNED 1994 Acura Integra Coupe has improved lighting courtesy of powerful projector-beam headlamps. Improvements te the
manual and automatic transmissions, a sorter ride, and driver and passenger airbags are other important changes for 1994.

Sporty compact, with lower price,

IN THE space of just seven years, Acura (Honda’s lux-
ury/performance car division) has introduced four new
models in Canada, established a network of independent
dealerships, and won a number of independent awards for

quality and reliability.

However, increasing competi-
tion from Japanese newcomers
Lexus and Infiniti — as well as
from established luxury marques
like BMW, Jaguar, and
Mercedes-Benz — have given
Acura some stiff competition in
what has become an overcrowded
luxury car market.

Acura, however, has one type
of vehicle the others lack: an en-
try-level car for under $20,000.

Sales of the compact Integra
represented 73% of total Acura
sales for Canadian Acura dealer-
ships in 1992.

The integra is a sporty, com-
pact, front-whcel-drive car avail-
able in two body styles: a two-
door coupe/hatchback and a
four-door sedan.

While the coupe is essentially a
242 hatchback with minimal rear
seat room, the sedan has a longer
wheelbase (by 5 cm/19 in.), a
roomier five-passenger interior,

TEST DRIVE

and a more sedan-like profile.
Since its introduction in 1987,

the Integra's two major

distinguishing features have been a

high-revving dual overhead cam
four-cylinder engine with four
valves per cylinder, and standard
four-wheel disc brakes.

These, combined with quick
steering, nimble handling and
reasonable fuel economy, have
made the Integra popular with
younger buyers.

Last year, Acura added the
super sporty Integra GS-R to their
lineup. Its high-revving 170-
horsepower 1.8-litre four-cylinder
engine claims the most power out-
put per litre of any normally
aspirated engine in North
America.

However, unless you’re an en-
thusiast, the GS-R is probably not
worth the extra money, in my
opinion.

The 1994 Integra is already the
third redesign of this model and
many refinements have been
made, though few are visible.

The new Integra two-door
coupe is a little shorter than the
*93 model; but the wheelbase is
slightly longer and the roof is
taller and slightly wider.

The exterior is more streamlined
for improved aerodynamics and a
dramatic new nose treatment gives

the car a distinctive appearance as
well as providing better lighting.
The jury is still out on whether the
new nose looks more attractive,
but in terms of lighting effec-
tiveness, the small projector-beam
headlamps are super.

On poorly lit suburban streets
and unlit country roads, the low
beams provide a deep, wide, dense
beam of light with a sharp upper
cutoff to protect the eyes of on-
coming motorists.

The strong beam seems to sweep
180 degrees around the front of

Price as tested $22,095

Base price (RS) $17,295

Type two-door, four-passenger
hatchback coupe
Layout transverse
engine/front-wheel-drive
Engine 1.8-litre four-cylinder,
DOHC, 16 valves, multi-port
fuel injection

Horsepower 142 @ 6,300 rpm
Torque 127 ft Ibs @ 5,260 rpm
Curb weight 1,199 kg/2,643 Ibs
Wheelbase 2,570 mm/J01.2 in.
Length 4,380 mm/172.4 in.

front

is the best-selling Acura in Canada

the car, High beam illumination
adds height to this panoramic
sweep. Good headlamps are often
a forgotten safety feature: they
improve vision at night, increase
reaction time, and lessen the
chance of a collision.

But while the headlamps are the
most visible change for ’94, the
real story is under the sheet metal.

The 94 Integra has improved
manual! and automatic transmis-
sions, more safety features, a
more rigid body structure, im-

See Safety page 30

2

Width 1,710 mm/67.3 in.
Height 1,335 mim /52.6 in.
Tires Michelin XGT-H4
P195-60R-14 radials

Trunk capacity 380 litres/13.4
cu. ft.

Fuel consumption City: 9.5 1/
100 km (28 mpg}; Hwy: 6.9 1/
100 km (41 mpg)

Warranty Basic: three years/
60,000 km: Powertrain: five
years/100,000 km; Roadside
assistance

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