Acura is lastly heading to Japan, however it received’t be a full-throated assault on Lexus and the German luxurious manufacturers.
As a substitute, a single mannequin is because of go on sale within the second half of 2026: the US-made Acura Integra Sort S scorching hatch. Will probably be joined by one other US-made mannequin, the Honda Passport TrailSport Elite.
Regardless that Japan drives on the left-hand aspect of the street, each automobiles can be bought in Japan in left-hand drive. Regardless of the inconvenience, and potential hazard, left-hand drive automobiles have a small however notable cult following, with some drivers preferring left-hand drive variations of the European luxurious automobiles over their in any other case similar right-hand drive siblings.
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The Acura Integra is principally a redesigned Honda Civic with a brand new nostril and liftback. Each the Integra and North American editions of Civic are made in Marysville, Ohio.
For Japan solely the range-topping Sort S can be bought. It options the identical 2.0-litre turbo engine because the Civic Sort R, however output has been modestly raised to 239kW and 420Nm. Just like the Sort R, energy is shipped to the entrance wheels solely by way of a six-speed handbook transmission.
To match the turbocharged mill underneath the bonnet, the Integra S has a wider monitor with pumped up wheel arches, upgraded brakes, and an adaptive suspension setup that’s extra compliant than the Sort R’s.
The Integra Sort S will probably command a premium over the Civic Sort R, which is priced from ¥5 million (A$45,000). Within the States, the Integra Sort S begins at US$53,400 (A$75,000) or a US$6505 (A$9200) premium over the Sort R.
Launched in 2024, the fourth-generation Honda Passport is actually a shortened model of the unibody Pilot SUV with a lot harder and off-road focussed styling.
Measuring a smidge over 5m lengthy, the Passport is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 making 213kW and 355Nm that’s hooked as much as a 10-speed auto and an ordinary all-wheel drive system.
Solely the range-topping TrailSport Elite is making the journey to Japan, and it leans into the Passport’s off-road aesthetic with bash plates, chunkier all-terrain tyres, orange tow hooks, and retuned suspension.
Within the US, the Passport TrailSport Elite is priced at US$52,650 (A$74,500). In Japan it can undoubtedly be priced effectively past the CR-V that kicks off at ¥5.1 million (A$46,000), and is at current is the most important SUV in Honda Japan’s lineup.
This isn’t the primary time Honda has bought North American-made automobiles in Japan, though all earlier exports had been right-hand drive.
These embody the second-generation Odyssey, which was marketed in Japan because the LaGreat to distinguish it from the smaller worldwide Odyssey.
There have additionally been two Acura fashions — the first-generation MDX and second-generation NSX — each of which had been rebranded as Hondas previous to their journey throughout the Pacific Ocean.
Honda’s resolution to export US-made fashions to Japan comes after a interval of tariff uncertainty sparked by US President Donald Trump, who unilaterally raised duties on made-in-Japan automobiles to 27.5 per cent, kicking off a tariff conflict between the 2 nations.
Negotiations between the 2 nations concluded in September 2025 with US decreasing the automotive tariff to fifteen per cent, and Japan agreeing to ease restrictions for importing US-made automobiles.
On the finish of 2025 Toyota introduced it was getting ready to promote the US-made Camry sedan, Highlander SUV — recognized in Australia because the Kluger — and Tundra ute in Japan.
