The Acura Integra Type S, which is assembled at Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, will soon be exported to Japan, as will the Honda Passport SUV made at their Alabama Auto Plant.
Sales of the first Acura-branded model to be sold in the Japanese market are slated to begin sometime in 2026, though an exact date is yet to be confirmed, as is a final price. The Type S bound for export will match U.S. specifications, including its 320-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four engine and even down to its left-hand drive configuration.
It’s the same deal with the Honda Passport. Assembled in Lincoln, Alabama, the fourth-gen Passport will arrive in Japan with U.S. specs, sold exclusively in the TrailSport Elite trim.
It’s an interesting decision, though not one without precedent. Honda has been exporting vehicles from the states back to their home country since 1988, starting with the Accord coupe and Gold Wing GL1500 motorcycles– also made in Marysville, Ohio. Of the 1.75-million Honda and Acura models made in the U.S. and exported globally, 300,000 were destined for Japan. Plus, the K20C powering the Acura Integra Type S and Honda Civic Type R is made at the Anna Engine Plant in Ohio and exported to Japan.
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The Acura Integra Type S is a seriously impressive machine, with most of our staff preferring its slightly more “civilized” hot hatch approach when compared to its Civic Type R cousin. That said, “civilized” is in quotes for a reason, as it’s still plenty rowdy with just enough plush to make it a more convincing daily; and if you want something with a tad more race car appeal, the Type R is the more apt route. Either way, you can’t go wrong with either of these lively liftbacks.