Honda has announced a series of updates for its vehicle lineup for the 2026 model year. Among the key changes are a facelift for sports models and expanded availability of base trim levels.
Updates for Sports Models
One of the most interesting pieces of news is the planned facelift for the Honda Civic Type R and its close relative, the Acura Integra Type S. Honda has already increased the price of the Type R by one thousand dollars; it now stands at $48,090 including destination. For the updated versions, the company promises changes to the exterior and interior to keep the models current. However, there are no images yet, so it’s hard to say exactly how the cars will change. No updates have been announced for the 2.0-liter engine producing 315 horsepower either.
These updates are part of the brand’s overall strategy aimed at increasing product value.
Accessibility Strategy and New Technologies
This strategy is particularly important against the backdrop of the constant rise in the average price of new cars, which has already exceeded the $50,000 mark. Honda is also participating in this increase, but the company states it will increase production of more accessible, non-hybrid trim levels for the CR-V, Civic, and Accord models. Acura will do the same for the ADX and Integra.
Company representatives clarified that this is not about creating entirely new trim levels, but rather about increasing production volumes of existing, more accessible versions such as LX and Sport.
The updated and more expensive 2026 model year Pilot is already arriving at US dealerships. It has received a new grille, a larger touchscreen, a quieter cabin, and improved handling. But Acura fans will have to wait a few more months for truly major news.
A New Era for Acura: Electric and Hybrid
The main news is the debut of the new Acura RSX electric SUV, scheduled for the second half of the year. This will be the manufacturer’s first electric vehicle to be built at the Marysville plant in Ohio, which also produces internal combustion engine vehicles and hybrids. For comparison, the electric ZDX, production of which was discontinued in 2025, was manufactured by General Motors in Tennessee.
Furthermore, Acura plans updates for the MDX model, which will debut after summer, likely for the 2027 model year vehicles. This could happen soon after the brand discontinues production of the current RDX model, which has been in production since 2018. The RDX badge first appeared in 2006, and its successor will be a new two-motor hybrid, the development of which will take a few more years.
Honda’s announcements for 2026 demonstrate a balanced approach: on one hand, supporting the brand’s image through updates to performance models, and on the other, responding to market challenges via more accessible versions. The emphasis on localizing electric vehicle production in the US indicates the strategic importance of this market and the desire to optimize logistics. The temporary gap between discontinuing the old RDX and the arrival of the new hybrid model may create a certain vacuum in Acura’s lineup, which the updated MDX might possibly fill. The success of these initiatives will largely depend on how successfully the company can combine increased product value with maintaining their competitive affordability.