Acura to export U.S.-built Integra Type S to Japan in 2026

Acura announced plans to export the U.S.-built Integra Type S to Japan in 2026. Learn how the Ohio-built performance model will enter the Japanese market.

Acura has announced that the high-performance sport sedan Integra Type S, built in the United States, will be officially exported to Japan for the first time. Sales in the Japanese market are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. The move coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Acura brand and carries symbolic weight: the Integra Type S will become the first vehicle sold in Japan under the Acura name.

The car is produced exclusively at the Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, one of Honda’s key manufacturing facilities in North America. The plant has been building vehicles since 1982 and plays a central role in Honda’s global production network. The engine powering the model—a turbocharged 2.0-liter K20C unit—is assembled at the nearby Anna Engine Plant, the company’s largest engine factory, which also produces the engine used in the Civic Type R.

The Integra Type S is described as the most powerful version of the model ever produced. Its turbocharged VTEC engine delivers 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque and is paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission. The gearbox features an automatic rev-matching system, while a limited-slip differential helps transfer power effectively to the front wheels.

Engineers focused heavily on driving dynamics. The car uses a dual-axis front suspension, an Adaptive Damper System and high-performance Brembo front brakes. The dynamic package is completed by lightweight 19-inch wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

Inside, the model blends performance with premium technology. Standard equipment includes a 10.2-inch Acura Precision Cockpit digital instrument display, a Head-Up Display, heated sport front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless smartphone charging and a 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D premium audio system.

In Japan, the Integra Type S will be offered in the same specifications as the U.S. version, including left-hand drive. The decision highlights the model’s American production roots and positions it as a distinctive import in the Japanese market.

The arrival of the model in Japan was previewed earlier in 2026 when Honda displayed the car at two major automotive events—Tokyo Auto Salon and Osaka Auto Messe. According to the company, the exhibits generated strong interest among visitors.

The move also reflects a long history of exporting American-built Honda vehicles. The company began exporting cars from the United States in 1987, and in 1988 became the first Japanese automaker to import its own U.S.-built vehicles into Japan. Since then Honda has exported more than 1.75 million vehicles built in the United States to global markets, including nearly 300,000 units to Japan.

In the United States, the modern Integra has become one of Acura’s core models. Since its return in 2022, it has captured roughly 35% of retail sales in the premium sport compact segment. The high-performance Type S version plays a specific strategic role, attracting younger buyers and accounting for more than 10% of total Integra sales.

Against this backdrop, exporting the Integra Type S to Japan represents more than just an expansion of sales geography. For Acura, it marks a symbolic moment: a model long associated with the brand’s success in the American market is returning to Honda’s home country under the Acura badge, in its most powerful and advanced form to date.