Could it be?
“The spy shots you refer to appear to be the result of skilled photoshop artists. Motor1.com spoke to Chris Naughton, Acura spokesperson. “While we are grateful for the enthusiasm for our past products,” he said.
These spy photos are a great example of automotive mystery. The Instagram images claim to show the new Honda Integra, although Acura branding seems to be more likely. But, the brand’s product plans don’t indicate that a small coupe such as this is in the works. What are we looking at?
The mystery is not solved by the person who posted the images. These are the two only posts to the account. There are some suggestions that the photos might have been taken by skilled photoshops to create images of a vehicle that does not exist. We continue to investigate this possibility.
It’s easy to spot cues from the third-generation Integra just by looking at the vehicle’s exterior design. The slim headlights look similar to those on the models made in the USA. Another familiar design feature is the rising beltline. It is reminiscent of the classic coupe with its wide rear glass and narrow taillights. The center-exit trapezoidal exhaust seems to be the same as the previous-gen Civic Si. This could indicate that it is a placeholder for the development vehicle.
A glimpse of the license plate can also be seen in the rear view. Although the resolution of the image is too low to see anything clearly, the design is very similar with California and Ohio plates. Both of these places could be where Honda develops a vehicle.
However, there are still some issues that are not in sync. First, Honda decided to end the Civic Coupe in America because it was only six percent of its sales mix. Why would Acura’s slightly more expensive two-door perform better than the Civic Coupe?
A presentation by Acura dealers in 2020 also showed the brand’s 2022 Product Plan. However, it did not mention this coupe. Only the compact sedan was mentioned in the breakdown. The company may have told dealers about multiple variants of the new product, even though the two-door version is expected to arrive in 2022.
Motor1.com’s 2020 brand boss Jon Ikeda stated that Acura’s future is a combination of the past Acura and the present Acura. “Back in 1980s, we brought in a unique vehicle and brand that was based on performance; that was what our focus was.”
If that is the plan of Acura, then it could be a great way to mix past and present.