2023 Civic FE-based Acura Integra begins production in America, to be exported overseas

• Rebodied Civic FE begins production in America
• First Second Integra to be built outside of Japan
• Overseas sales hinted

After a hiatus of 16 years, the Honda Integra is revived in not one but two markets – China and North America. Both Integras are essentially based on the seminal Civic FE but they are also very much different from one another.

While the Chinese market Integra is merely a Civic twin built under another joint venture (GAC Honda), the American Integra is badged under Honda’s luxury arm, Acura, and is completely restyled to be a sportier Civic FE.

Though the Acura Integra was unveiled in November 2021, production for the sporty liftback has only just started at Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio. This marks the first time the Integra has been built in the United States as previous generations were all made in Suzuka, Japan.

Also read: The reborn Honda Integra is secretly a Civic Si underneath, but does it even matter?

Besides the Integra, the Marysville plant is also home to the current Honda NSX as well as other Acura and Honda models for the North American market including the Honda Accord and Honda CR-V.

Also read: Sayonara Honda NSX - Honda discontinues the hybrid supercar in Japan

In the press release, Honda has hinted that the reborn Integra could be sold outside of the States by stating the “Marysville Auto Plant is the exclusive global producer of the next-generation 2023 Acura Integra”. Granted, Acura only has a presence in a few markets so the precision A logo could be swapped for the evergreen H badge.

The all-new Integra is aimed at a new generation of enthusiast drivers who wanted an exhilarating driving experience combined with premium features. Powering the Integra is a turbocharged 1.5-litre VTEC (200 PS/260 Nm) that is also shared with the Honda Civic Si.

Also read: Is the all-new 2022 Honda Civic Si a reborn Type R sedan? – 200 PS, 260 Nm, 6-MT, rev-matching

The VTEC Turbo is paired with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox that drives the front wheels. Sales are expected to commence from June while prices for the Integra start from USD 30,800 (~RM 135k) which is nearly USD 3k more than the base Civic Si.

Still, the Integra does have an air of prestige but would you prefer this over the Civic if it were offered here?