2001 marked the final year of the Acura Integra, and with it the high-performance Integra Type-R. The Type-R stood out visually from the rest of the Integra lineup with is more aggressive lower front valence, side skirts, tall rear spoiler, and “Type-R” badging in front of the rear wheel-wells. Available colors were limited to Nighthawk Black Pearl and Phoenix Yellow.

Inside, the Type-R features unique bucket seats, a simulated carbon-fiber instrument panel, aluminum shift knob, and standard air conditioning (optional in 1997-98 Type-R’s). A sunroof was not available in the Type-R, so if you come across an example with one, it was either installed or is a clone car.

The Type-R features a heavily tuned and largely hand-assembled version of the Integra’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder VTEC engine. Everything from cylinder heads to piston coating and connecting rods were revised compared to the non-Type-R engine. The result is a high-revving unit that makes 195 horsepower at 8000 rpm. Power goes to the front wheels through a close-ratio five-sped manual transmission.

A stiffer suspension lowers the 2001 Integra Type-R’s ride height by 10 mm and disc brakes are at all four corners. Some sound deadening materials were removed and a number of reinforcements were added to stiffen the chassis.

The Integra Type-R was replaced in 2002 by the Acura RSX Type-S. Though more powerful and performance focused than the base RSX, it was neither as hardcore nor as exclusive as its predecessor. The 1997-01 Acura Integra Type-R is widely regarded as the best-handling front-wheel drive car of all time, and it is certainly one of the most collectible front-drivers out there.