Acura is set to debut the Integra Type S in North America as the lead vehicle at the start of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway this weekend. It will be wearing a special "Type S" camouflage wrap because, well, automakers are still doing that.

The prototype will also be displayed in the paddock of Florida's Daytona International Speedway throughout the race weekend while the Acura ARX-06 race cars compete in the new headline GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) category. As it stands, Acura is going to have one hell of a weekend as Meyer Shank Racing team driver Tom Blomqvist set the fastest time to put the ARX-06 in pole position for the race.

We're still waiting on more details from Acura as it milks out the lead-up to the car's full launch in the summer. We know now that it'll come with its 2.0-liter turbocharged VTEC engine making 300 horsepower and sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

Comparisons will be made to the Civic Type R, but we suspect it will be a little less hardcore, more premium on the inside, and more expensive. There would be no point in Acura making another Civic Type R because that already exists, but a super fast premium compact car is right on brand for the carmaker.

Acura Motorsports has high hopes for the Rolex 24 as it is coming in with the new car following back-to-back wins at the event, including a 1-2 finish in 2022. The old adage of "what wins on Sunday sells on Monday" may be dead, but there's no arguing that consistent success in the high-end of motorsports gives a brand a halo effect. Particularly as Acura is going up against brands like Porsche and BMW M.

The race starts on January 28, with broadcasts and streams of the event starting at 1.30 pm Eastern Time on NBC, Peacock, and the USA channel.