The Honda Motor Corporation is celebrating Acura’s 40th anniversary by launching the brand in Japan for the first time.
The automaker will begin shipping the Acura Integra Type S from Ohio to Japan later this year. The model will be sold in Japan in left-hand drive through Honda dealerships.
The Integra Type S was named American Cars And Racing’s 2024 US-Built Car Of The YearTM. It features a 320 hp front-wheel drivetrain, a high performance widebody suspension system and is only offered with a six-speed manual transmission.
“Building Acura models in America for the past thirty years has been a source of immense pride, and now exporting the American-built Integra Type S to Japan takes that pride to a new level,” Jun Jayaraman, senior vice president of the Manufacturing Management Center at Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, said in a news release. “Our Ohio associates pour their expertise and passion into every vehicle, and we’re excited for customers in Japan to experience the performance they create.”
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Honda will also begin selling the Alabama-built Passport in Japan alongside the Integra in the most off-road capable TrailSport Elite trim.
“Since Honda began auto production in America more than four decades ago, we have been dedicated to delivering quality for the world, made in the U.S.A.,” Jayaraman said. “From the onset, Honda has believed in our American manufacturing talent, and we are proud to export quality vehicles built by our associates in Alabama to Honda customers in Japan.”
Honda’s move follows a similar one by Toyota, which announced in December that it would start exporting the American-made Camry, Highlander and Tundra pickup to Japan in 2026.
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“Toyota will be able to meet the diverse needs of a broad range of customers, while also helping to improve Japan U.S. trade relations,” the company said in a news release.
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