Honda Integra may return

Honda’s US-centric luxury sub-brand, Acura, is plotting an all-new small performance sedan.

And it could become a born-again Honda Integra.

That’s the major take-out from a leaked Acura dealer video conference that detailed the brand’s future product portfolio.

While most of the vehicles detailed in the Acura product plan (which was posted to the AcuraZine forums) are known quantities, with names to match, there was one surprise – a “new compact sedan”.

Honda’s luxury brand also confirmed there’ll be a Type S variant of the mystery small sports sedan, which has led to the name 'Integra' trending very strongly.

In production between 1989 and 2006, the Honda Integra was sold in Australia but was also badged as the Acura Integra in some markets.

It was a two-door coupe but the styling was very much in the sedan mould, with a delineated boot.

Just as the Toyota Supra has returned and the Nissan 400Z is about fire up again, it’s possible the Honda Integra could make a comeback too -- especially given the nameplate's strong performance car heritage.

The Honda Integra Type R introduced in 1995 was one of the most fearsome hot fours of its generation, with a 200hp 1.8-litre VTEC engine that revved to 8700rpm allowing the relatively lightweight two-door to upset many bigger, more powerful performance cars.

However, despite Acura’s new-found confidence and its pledge to resurrect ‘Type S’ performance variants across its range, the mystery small sedan almost certainly won’t be sold in Australia.

That's because Honda Australia is embarking on a new retail strategy that it concedes will halve its market share and shrink its product portfolio.

As part of Honda Australia's new ‘agency’ model to replace its traditional distribution system by mid-2021, the Japanese car-maker will focus on core models such as the Civic, HR-V and CR-V, so models like the Honda e electric car and even the new-generation Honda Jazz and its crossover spin-off, the Jazz Crosstar, won’t be coming here.

Rev-heads will be pleased to know the Honda Civic Type R will continue, but it seems unlikely – although not impossible – that a new Honda Integra will be offered here, even if it's produced in right-hand drive.