Honda welcomes 2002 Integra with hi-tech VTEC engine

It's been eight years since Honda changed the look of the front-wheel drive Integra, but now the marque has lifted the veil on the new look car.

In that eight years, a lot has changed. Honda is now a serious contender in the Formula One circuit and even in the GP and Superbike motorcycle racing circuits. It uses much of the experience gained building race cars and using the race telemetry to create newer, faster, more efficient vehicles - which is exactly what Honda has accomplished with the 2002 Integra.

The company has spent close to 3 billion US dollars during the creation of the new Integra and have reinvented the automobile manufacturing process at the same time.

By this, Honda is aiming to create cars with exponentially reduced emmissions. Honda has already initiated a new corporate philosophy with the project to be completed in 2010 when strict emmissions standards will be introduced worldwide.

We previously ran an article on the Honda RS-X, which is the American equivalent of the Integra. Now it's our turn as the new Integra will be arriving Down Under around late October and Australia will be getting a slightly different car, if the specifications are to be believed, but more on that later.

The updated Integra, we believe, is the best-looking 'Teg ever. The front end is very sleek, very low and the profile of the car gives you a chance to check out the drag-reducing aerodynamics. It also gives you a chance to see how small the new car is - talk about compact sportscars...

Honda has made some interesting changes to the suspension and the overall car rigidity, allowing for more linear and predictable steering. The Brembo brakes have also been upgraded to larger discs for 2002, along with four-pot calipers.

Honda is widely recognised as one of the most proficient engine manufacturers on the planet. Most Honda drivers will tell you about their car's reliability, but having driven many a Honda, both sportscar and sportsbike, one thing is for sure - they like to rev.

Honda must have a knack for creating high-revving powerplants, because its car's engines all seem to spin rather quickly. Take the new Integra, for instance. It has a 2.0-litre, 16-valve, DOHC, inline four-cylinder block and can spin up to 9,000rpm quite easily.

The difference between models hitting the States and Australia mainly revolve around peak power. The US-model RS-X (Integra equivalent) has a peak power of 119kW, which is the same as what we are getting.

But the top-spec model, the Type-R, has 164kW of power, compared to the American Type-R, which purportedly is down 15kW at 149. The powerful coupe's engine is mated to a six-speed close ratio transmission - perfect for powering down misty coastal roads in the morning.

Interestingly, last year's Integra Type-R put out 141kW, with the 2002 engine now rumoured to be have the highest power-per-litre ratio of any production car, a non-official title previously held by another Honda, the S2000.

The 2.0-litre engine uses the inline four-cylinder configuration for which many Honda vehicles owe their success. This new powerplant, up some 200cc on last years model, makes the new Type-R Integra the fastest front-wheel drive vehicle money can buy.

The all-new 2.0-litre engine takes advantage of both Honda's 'go faster' innovations - i-VTEC and VTC. The latter stands for variable timing control and together with the i-VTEC technology, the new engine is capable of adjusting the cam sprockets while the engine is running, thanks to the ECU.

This ECU can also fine tune the power-band on the run - this means that optimum power is almost always on tap, at any amount of revs and at most speeds. This is achieved by adjusting the valve opening overlap between the intake and exhaust valves. Technology - it makes cars go faster!

Inside the new Honda, things have been upgraded, too. For example, the new Type-R now has driver and front-passenger SRS airbags and isoFIX child seat restraint anchors are included as standard. Also, a low-impact head-protecting interior is designed to reduce collision-related injuries. Other options of the high-end Type-R model Integra include Recaro bucket seats, Momo leather steering wheel and 16" alloy wheels.

The new Integra also holds the Japanese Ministry of Transport's "Low Emmissions Excellence" award for doing what it does best. The new Integra Type-R will be arriving late October on local shores and, by all accounts, could very well push Honda in a new direction. No price point has been given, but expect the Type-R to go for around $45,000.

Rumour has it that the company may even be doing a re-vamp of its $280,000 supercar, too. The NSX may end up with a V8 engine if the rumours are to be believed - wouldn't that be something!

The front-wheel drive compact sports car market has a new king - all hail the Integra Type-R.

But with all victories, there has to be casualties and, as part of the companies new philosophy (and spending) the Prelude has been dropped off next years list. The 'Lude served its owners well, but this also opens the doors to a new semi-sports coupe and you can bet your shirt that Honda has something very cool in store for drivers...