SP Rides: When Opposites Attract
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Arnold Bornios
Age: 41
Occupation: Student, visual artist
Hobbies: Cars
Year/Make/Model: 2001 Honda Integra Type R
Color: Phoenix Yellow
Engine: Mugen valve cover, Spoon air filter, ITR battery tie-down Spoon catback exhaust, Mugen oil cap, FEEL’s radiator cap.
Exterior: Mugen Gen 2 Wing, EDM taillights.
Interior: Auto power Roll Cage, Super Rare Type R X Recaro seats, Bride seat rails, Momo Monte Carlo Steering Wheel with yellow switching, Radio carbon fiber delete, Mugen pedals, Vision shift knob, ITR cargo mats.
Suspension: Spoon N1 Coilover suspension, Mugen Gen 1 Strut bar, Miracle X Bar.
Wheels/Brakes/Tires: Mugen MF10 Bronze wheels in 16×7, Spoon Front caliper replacement kit, Yokohama Sdrive 205/45R16s.
Shoutouts: My girl, Resie Jacinto, for her love and support; my folks for putting up with me; my VPR crew: Bornios family, Jacinto family, Pacific Honda crew, Gil Jr. and Travis; and most of all to God for all his blessings.
The Integra Type R is considered by many to be the greatest front-wheel-drive automobile ever. Produced in a limited-production run of fewer than 4,000 units (1997-2001) for the U.S. domestic market, the Acura-badged ITR is truly a legendary import icon. Featuring VTEC and an 8,500 rpm limit, this is the ultimate screaming joy ride.
So says Arnold Bornios, who purchased this brand new Integra straight from the lot in 2001 and has loved every inch of the 10,990 miles he’s put into it since. Bornios has always considered the ITR — which as a collector car often fetches as much as $45,000 — as the best of the breed. Still, the ride is everything the humble, laid-back Bornios is not: loud, fast and wildly explosive. But even as opposites, they’ve found a way to share roadways together.
Since its purchase, this ITR has remained in pristine condition — as if the 16-year-old vehicle has just rolled off the assembly line and into Bornios’ hands. He’s spared no expense while enacting an extremely strict regime of care and attention to keep its parts in phenomenal shape. A choice selection of high quality and rare parts from manufacturers such as Mugen and Spoon grace the car, but overall, this baby is intentionally as OEM as they come.
Starting with the exterior, the all-original Phoenix Yellow paint is still blinding with the iconic ITR badging in plain view. A Mugen Gen 2 Wing is perched proudly behind the cabin, while peeking beneath the delicious 16-inch Mugen MF10 Bronze wheels is a Spoon front caliper upgrade kit designed for better stopping power. These bronze wheels complement the minimal exterior changes well while being mated to a Spoon N1 Coilover suspension setup.
Known for its VTEC system, the ITR’s B18C engine is synonymous with that gut-punch feeling attributed to the high lift cam lobe switch at extreme RPMs. Each one is hand-built and tuned at the factory and, at the time of its release, the ITR held the record for the most power per liter of any naturally aspirated engine ever produced in the U.S. Bornios has kept the tampering to a minimum by only swapping out the valve cover with a Mugen model, increasing air flow with a Spoon air filter and adding a bit more exhaust note with a Spoon model exhaust.
The interior has been given the most of the makeover thanks to the bolt-in blue-flaked Auto power roll cage as well as the Momo Monte Carlo steering wheel with yellow stitching. A Vision shift knob and Mugen pedals have also been added. Of special note are the blinding yellow and super rare Type R X Recaro seats, fitted with Bride seat rails. The chassis is further stiffened with a Mugen strut bar as well as a Miracle X Bar.
