2022 Acura Integra might use NA K-series with at least a 7,500 RPM redline & here’s the proof

This Youtuber with audio engineering skills just proved Acura might be cooking up a high-revving N.A. engine for the 2022 Integra.

Usually new car rumors are based on just that, rumors. But according to Youtuber Cameron Hill, his rumor is backed by solid evidence and sound audio engineering principles with proof sourced from Acura’s own Integra teaser video.

Using a guitar, Hill benchmarked and determined the exact frequency Acura used to tease the 2022 Integra. After some simple maths, Hill figured out what RPM that mystery engine ran up to.

Check out Acura’s teaser and Hill’s video below.

If you didn’t already know, there’s a direct relationship between the sound you hear from any reciprocating engine (its frequency in Hertz) and RPM.

Even young kids generally know a car’s engine sound gradually increases in pitch the faster a car goes.

1 HZ = 60 RPM

First, Hill synced his guitar’s sound to an Acura RSX Type S’s K20A2 at wide-open throttle in fourth at 7,500 RPM and noted he strummed the 9th fret of his guitar’s D string.

Based on that sound frequency test, Hill worked out whatever engine was in the teaser matches the harmonics of 2.0L K-series at a similar RPM.

Looking at this chart of guitar notes and its matching hertz, that note corresponds to a B or around 247-250 HZ. Since four-stroke engines fire every second rotation, we divide HZ in half and multiply by 60 to get between 7,410-7,500 RPM.

We know whatever engine Acura was teasing revved up to at least 7,500 RPM.

Hill ruled out Honda’s current lineup of 1.5L and 2.0L turbo engines because, as they are, they simply don’t rev that high, both petering out at 6,500 RPM and 7,000 RPM, respectively.

That leaves us with Honda’s K-series lineup of engines still found in the Acura ILX (K24V7) and the base model Civic (K20C4.) Both do not rev that high, but other versions of the K-series, including the high-revving K20A and K20Z variants, do.

Those last two, either one, are what Hill thinks was used in the teaser video.

While the USDM K20 only ever got up to 200 HP and 142 lb-ft, the most powerful production K20s reached 221 HP and 159 lb-ft (JDM Civic Type R.)

And there are experimental engines like Mugen’s K20A, found in the Mugen RR Advanced Concept and stroked up to 2.2L, that made upwards of 260 HP at an astronomical 8,250 RPM.

So, we know there’s more reliable power in the K-series to be made, yet.

It would not surprise me in the least if Honda did stuff a more advanced K-series under the hood of the Integra.

For one, Integra is known for its high-revving engines with peaky power graphs. Acura’s been trying (and succeeding imo) to add back Precision Crafted Performance with nods to its heritage. Bringing back a high-revving, naturally aspirated engine into the mix would be right up that alley.

And using tried-and-true powerplants wouldn’t be a total . Honda’s still using its J35 variant of its J-series V6 and that was first used in 1999.

Finally, we know Acura will use the 11th gen Civic as a base platform for the Integra. That chassis, as mentioned, already has a K-series engine for its base model, so a variant would not be an issue.

There is, of course, the possibility Acura didn’t actually use the 2022 Integra engine for its teaser, which, if that’s true, blows this whole theory out of the water.

If that’s the case, we’re back to the drawing board.

Then again, it could be true!

Do you think Acura’s going to use a high-revving K-series for its 2022 Acura Integra? Let me know your .02 in the comments below.