What the car is and where it came from
The DC2 is the Integra Type R built from 1995 to 2001, and Honda introduced it as its first Integra Type R. It is a version of the third-generation Integra, which Honda debuted in Japan in 1993 at its Honda Verno dealerships. The top model of that generation used a B18C VTEC engine, and shortly after the late-1994 facelift, in 1995, Honda released a Type R to the Japanese market. In the US the Type R was sold only as a liftback.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
The engine is a 1.8-litre DOHC VTEC in-line four, the B18C. In Japan it makes 200 PS at 8,000 rpm. American cars make 195 hp at 8,000 rpm. Japanese and other international cars have an 11:1 compression ratio, against 10.6:1 in the US. The extra power over the GS-R came mainly from higher compression, a larger throttle body, high-lift camshafts and a high-volume exhaust manifold.
The gearbox is a close-ratio five-speed manual with a helical limited-slip differential. First gear and the final drive match the GS-R, but second to fourth are spaced much closer. The tachometer reads to 10,000 rpm with an 8,400 rpm redline, and the shift knob is titanium.
What it gets right
The focus of the Type R was to minimise weight while adding rigidity. The chassis gained extra spot welds and thicker metal around the rear shock towers and lower subframe. It also gained larger strut tower bars, rear performance rods, revised springs and dampers, and larger sway bars. The windscreen is ten percent thinner, sound insulation was reduced and the wheels are lighter. Honda deleted the moonroof, vanity mirrors, cruise control and rear wiper, and made air conditioning an option.
What it does not
It did not save much weight in American form. The extra metal and cross-bracing cancel much of the reduction, leaving only 33 lb between the American Type R and the GS-R. Nor was there one car. Japanese, American and UK versions differ in output, compression and final drive, and the four-headlight front end was sold in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
What it changed
The Type R drew praise worldwide. Evo magazine named it the greatest front-wheel-drive performance car ever, and TheAutoChannel.com called it the best-handling front-wheel-drive car. In Japan the TV show Best Motoring pitted it against the Nissan Skyline GT-R and the Subaru WRX STI. Realtime Racing used the Type R and later the RSX Type-S in SCCA World Challenge, winning six consecutive titles from 1997 to 2002.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for drivers who want a stripped-down front-wheel-drive car and accept a plainer cabin. In the US it arrived as a 1997 Acura, the only Type R sold in North America with the Acura badge, and air conditioning was the only option. American production was limited to 320 cars in 1997, 1,000 in 1998, 1,350 in 2000 and 1,158 in 2001, with none for 1999. It is not for buyers wanting a moonroof or cruise control, which Honda removed.
Is it worth your time
Yes, if you care about how Honda built a performance car by subtraction. The DC2 pairs a high-revving VTEC four with close gearing and a stiffened body, and the praise it drew is on record. The 2002 DC5 Type R, sold only in Japan, moved to a 2.0-litre K20A engine.
