Iconic model being built in America for the first time
Associates at the Marysville Auto Plant celebrated a new addition to its product line and marked a milestone in the plant’s history Thursday as the first 2023 Acura Integra sport compact rolled off the production line around 7 a.m.
While Honda has built Acura models in America since 1995, this is the first time the iconic Integra has been built in the United States. The Marysville plant will be the exclusive global production home of the vehicle, which is expected to arrive at automobile dealers in early June.
Kevin Fausnaugh, engineering project leader for the 2023 Acura Integra, said the launch was a joyous occasion, following several years’ worth of development and special preparations at the plant.
“We’re very proud of the new and completely redesigned Integra. We love the styling and the ride – it’s a great product. We can’t wait for it to get to the market.
“We worked closely with the R&D team in Japan to achieve the quality and safety standards and the precision-crafted performance that the Acura brand is known for.”
With the addition of the Integra, the Acura lineup currently features five distinct models – also including the TLX sport sedan, the RDX and MDX sport-utility vehicles, and the electrified NSX Type S, all built locally at the Marysville Auto Plant, East Liberty Auto Plant and the Performance Manufacturing Center.
“We are proud the Marysville Auto Plant has been chosen as the exclusive global production home for the 2023 Acura Integra that will play a key role in attracting the next generation of driving enthusiasts to the Acura brand,” said Arjun Jayaraman, plant lead at MAP.
“The fact that we build all Acura vehicles in Ohio speaks to our experienced workforce and highlights the confidence Honda has in our associates to build the quality cars and light trucks our customers love.
“And as a former owner of a 1990 Integra, I know the excitement this vehicle provides and the end result of our associates’ efforts is an incredibly fun-to-drive next generation Acura product.”
The engineering project lead said the new redesign keeps in mind that fun-to-drive nature of the car while offering modern amenities, such as wireless charging, a top-of-the-line sound system and the choice to switch between driving modes to change up vehicle handling and dynamics.
As the only five-door liftback in the premium sport compact segment, the new Integra offers “plenty of cargo room and rear seats that flip down for extra space,” said Plain City area resident Fausnaugh, who has worked for Honda for 24 years.
“The car has grown a little over time, based on the market, what people want to drive.”
The 2023 Integra is powered by a 200-horsepower turbocharged engine produced at the Anna Engine Plant, paired with either a segment-exclusive six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission. The car retails at a starting price of $30,800.
With its introduction at the Marysville plant, the Integra is produced on the same line as the Acura TLX sport sedan. MAP associates leveraged their four decades of experience to take on several new challenges to build the new vehicle – including new production technologies and processes.
The sleek, fastback styling of the Acura Integra liftback is much different than the vertical tailgate for the Honda CR-V, also built at MAP. The design of the Integra liftback required new equipment or processes in the weld, paint and assembly areas.
In addition, MAP is an industry leader in the application of laser-brazing technology to join the roof to the body side panels for a seamless exterior appearance and stronger vehicle body.
For Integra, the flat roof design created a new challenge compared to other products with laser-brazed roofs (Acura TLX, Honda Accord). MAP’s weld associates applied their experience with dual beam laser technology to overcome the challenges and fulfill the Integra styling requirements.
Also specific to this vehicle, Fausnaugh related that Honda installed entirely new instrument panel production equipment at the plant to create the soft and seamless instrument panel. The new process heats and stretches the material covering the instrument panel to create a clean and seamless appearance.
Associates also overcame a number of challenges related to the COVID pandemic to prepare the Integra for mass production. Fausnaugh said while he was able to get in a trip or two to Japan prior to the start of the pandemic in early 2020, the last 2 ½ years have involved the new model team working remotely with the R&D team in Japan.
The production team also utilized video tools in the plant to livestream trial production and collaborating remotely on design changes and processes.