New Honda Integra ruled out for Australia

The reborn 2022 Honda Integra will not be coming to Australia and nor will many other enticing models from the Japanese brand’s global line-up.

But it’s not all bad news for local lovers of the big H.

While Honda is streamlining its Aussie line-up as it moves away from traditional franchising to fixed-price agency retailing, it has confirmed the next-generation Honda Civic Type R hot hatch will make it Down Under.

The new 11th-generation Honda Civic hatch (above) will roll out late in 2021 with the Type R version expected in 2022, although launch timing is yet to be confirmed.

“I don’t have timing on Type R,” said Honda Australia director Collins. “Definitely the next-generation Type R will definitely come to Australia.”

Last time an all-new Type R was launched, it came 17 months after the mainstream model in October 2017. Hopefully, fans won’t have to wait quite so long this time around.

“It’s a massively important car to us and I think it might have to be at a later date that we confirm exactly when that will be, but it’s clearly a part of our plan,” said Collins.

“Hopefully we’ll love it like we do the current one.”

Information is limited about the new Type R, which may carry over its existing 228kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, upgrade it or even add some form of hybrid assistance.

Collins, sadly, could be more definitive about the reborn Honda Integra which the Japanese car-maker has officially confirmed will return as a small sports car in 2022 after the badge’s 15-year hiatus.

So far, the new Integra has been confirmed as being part of the luxury Acura range in North America and looks like it might morph from a two-door into a four-door coupe.

“My understanding is that it’s essentially only for the US market, left-hand drive, there is no current plan for Australia,” said Collins. “That’s pretty much the long and the short of it.

“I personally have a massive love for Integras, because I know the whole Integra story and lived it in my younger days,” Collins revealed.

It’s the same ‘no go’ story for the rest of the Acura USA range including the MDX large SUV (above) once sold in Australia.

Also in the US range are the Acura ILX and TLX sedans and the RDX SUV.

Sadly, Collins said, there is no sign of an Acura NSX revival either.

The US-built Honda Ridgeline dual-cab ute and Honda Pilot SUV (above) are also off the radar for Australia, the former especially a cruel blow considering the popularity of pick-ups here.

“One of the issues obviously with left-hand to right-hand drive is trying to get numbers to be big enough for right hand-drive development,” conceded Collins, who also categorically ruled out striking a local conversion deal with an operation like Walkinshaw Automotive (RAM, Chevrolet Silverado).

However, Collins remains hopefully opportunities for Australia will pop up within the Honda global manufacturing network, especially as the majority of local vehicle sourcing is reverting to Japanese plants.

“It doesn’t have to be huge volume. It can just be a small-volume, cool car, whatever it may be,” he said.

“So I think that where it makes sense for us then we would definitely look at models that become available to us.”

One small-volume model that will continue in Australia will be the Honda Accord luxury sedan, which went on sale in Australia in its current generation in late 2019.

“It’s very small volume but it has an enormous history,” said Collins.

“It’s a global vehicle. It will stay in the range and we’re obviously working on the next-generation car, of which timing I don’t know yet, but that will happen.”

Meanwhile, the jury is out on the future of the Odyssey people-mover, which is also now selling in small volumes and will reportedly soon be axed globally.

“I think there’s a lot of global discussions; I’m not sure whether there’ll be global announcements on Odyssey,” said Collins.

“I think it’s imminent, but it’s been an important model for us and I don’t want to jump the gun on Odyssey.”

As well as Civic, Honda will launch a new-generation Honda HR-V (above) in Australia by April 2022. A new CR-V might not be seen until 2023 but will also come in hybrid form, while Honda’s first electric vehicles will, according to Collins, be here within “a couple of years” – probably in SUV form.