Beyond new Integra, Acura dealers look to EVs

Acura is enjoying a major milestone this year with the return of the Integra nameplate — the final vehicle in its lineup to get a badly needed redesign.

The renovation of the lineup, which started in the wake of the Great Recession a decade ago, also comes with the return of the Type S performance variant popular with buyers and dealers.

But this year also marks a turning point for Honda's premium brand, with the second generation of the NSX supercar ceasing production and retailers preparing dealerships for their first battery-electric vehicle.

"There certainly is positive anticipation," said David Ellis, chairman of the Acura National Dealer Advisory Board and general manager of Northeast Acura in Latham, N.Y.

"Acura has made some great product moves recently," he said. "The first example is going to be from the General Motors-Honda collaboration. But we're certainly excited to see Acura's idea of electrification on their own, with tech and their engineering."

Dealers are preparing for the arrival of the crossover electric vehicle that Acura is making in coordination with GM.

Acura has described its near-term electrification plan to dealers and given them a glimpse of future EV models in development, Ellis said. The brand also is developing a facilities plan for those vehicles.

"There will be specific recommendations forthcoming about facility design and equipment, charging stations and those kinds of things," he said.

Although the discontinuation of the NSX marks the end of an era for the performance brand, dealers are hopeful that electrification will mark a new beginning for its halo vehicle. The next logical step for a reprise of the NSX, Ellis said, would be a battery-electric version to join what is sure to be fierce competition as performance brands lean into EVs.

"We're all hoping that there is a reprise of the NSX. We're hoping that some version of it is electrified."