2026 FL5 Speculation Thread

[blinkme323]

If the ITS didn't exist, then I could see Honda making a push and/or retooling the FL5 to extend the lifecycle but there really is no need.

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[JCZ5]

Speaking of ITS, how are they doing in the market. Just feels like a weird niche to be in, as I assume most if given the choice will go towards the FL5. I also heard / experienced ITS being discounted to a degree where it is almost at parity with the FL5 pricing (maybe some ADM).

When I test drove the ITS, my main feedback was having better bear-hugging seats like the FL5. And I get it is the more "daily/comfortable" version. But I don't see a lot of people daily-ing an ITS when they can just as well daily a FL5

 

[someguy115]

Speaking of ITS, how are they doing in the market. Just feels like a weird niche to be in, as I assume most if given the choice will go towards the FL5. I also heard / experienced ITS being discounted to a degree where it is almost at parity with the FL5 pricing (maybe some ADM).

When I test drove the ITS, my main feedback was having better bear-hugging seats like the FL5. And I get it is the more "daily/comfortable" version. But I don't see a lot of people daily-ing an ITS when they can just as well daily a FL5

ITS is quite a bit better daily IMO. Significantly Better sound system, more comfortable seats, more comfortable suspension tuning. Parking sensors, auto folding mirrors, rain sensing wipers, parallel parking assist mirrors (mirrors automatically adjust down to see curbs). LED lights all around... Not HUGE differences, but honestly is is a bit more composed and mature with additional bells and whistles.

I haven't seen it getting discounted, in fact it also tends to have markups- I think the national average in the US is around $6k according to the trackers.

They are made in a much lower volume. ITS badge number is around 10000 currently from the last one I saw delivered

 

[JCZ5]

@someguy115 wow, all the quality of life features I was talking about earlier, I may have chosen the wrong car sans the great seats .

I did immediately swap to the ITS ADS module and the ride is phenomenal.

I guess discounts vary by region. Here in the northeast where Honda and Acura dealers are basically everywhere, I was offered a pretty nice discount for the ITS. I do miss some of those features and maybe the more “mature” look?

But back to speculations…if the FL5 does get discontinued in the US and the ITS lives on. Maybe the ITS will spawn a sportier trim, probably not quite ITS HRC level, but maybe a flavor of it

 

[someguy115]

@someguy115 wow, all the quality of life features I was talking about earlier, I may have chosen the wrong car sans the great seats .

I did immediately swap to the ITS ADS module and the ride is phenomenal.

I guess discounts vary by region. Here in the northeast where Honda and Acura dealers are basically everywhere, I was offered a pretty nice discount for the ITS. I do miss some of those features and maybe the more “mature” look?

But back to speculations…if the FL5 does get discontinued in the US and the ITS lives on. Maybe the ITS will spawn a sportier trim, probably not quite ITS HRC level, but maybe a flavor of it

HAHAHA!

Honestly I really do prefer the CTR look. It's the perfect blend of sporty, sleek, and mature. The ITS looks fine, but just having the trunk lip isn't enough on the rear. The only design portion I like more about the ITS are the headlights.

They might start bolting some wings on ITS, who knows?

 

[Lamotrigine]

Keep in mind though the car is built in Japan, which also has strict emissions rules. They're not going to build the car beyond MY26. I believe the date was June/July 2026 that the rules come into affect there but the plant building the car will stop in March. This is off memory, so it may be off...

You’re absolutely spot on! I reckon the MY2026 is only for filling their huge backlog in the JDM. Therefore, MY2025 could very likely be the last batch for worldwide market

 

[jpindustrie]

I keep seeing all the Japanese YouTube car people review Acura Integra Type S's, I wouldn't be surprised if they 'exported' a few out of USA to sell over there once FL5 starts sunsetting...

 

[someguy115]

I keep seeing all the Japanese YouTube car people review Acura Integra Type S's, I wouldn't be surprised if they 'exported' a few out of USA to sell over there once FL5 starts sunsetting...

Like the FL5 they wont meet Japanese regulations either come 2026, importing into Japan would likely become an extreme burden.

Its unfortunate because the Integra badge has some serious significance in the JDM world, more than the Civic badge especially so with the Integra Type R. I suspect that's why Honda instead named the ITS the "Type S", because it really doesn't quite live up to the sporty image like the Integra Type R of old.

 

[zumbooruk]

just stumbled on this (bottom line up front: still all speculations as far as U.S. sales)

"Known as the Civic Type R Ultimate Edition, the car at present is only destined for the European market, with just 40 build slots up for grabs. Buyers who miss out will still be able to opt for the standard Civic Type R in the Old Continent before sales wind up there sometime in 2026."

"Honda hasn't said whether it plans a similar final edition for the U.S., though given the typical five-year lifecycle for its products, the Civic Type R in its current form should remain on sale here at least through the 2027 model year."

"No changes have been made to the mechanical package. The Civic Type R makes do with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4, rated at 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mounted up front and drives the front wheels only, via a 6-speed manual transmission. "

"The Civic Type R isn't likely to be absent in Europe for long. While Honda hasn't addressed plans for the next generation of the car, an electrified powertrain is almost certain. Senior Honda executives hinted at the possibility of an electric Civic Type R as recently as the start of this year, though given the automaker's recent shift toward hybrids, a gas engine paired with an electrical system is more likely than a purely electric setup."

"In May, Honda said it was scaling back its investments in EVs and would instead focus on hybrids for the near-to-mid term. This new focus will include the launch of 13 vehicles featuring a next-generation hybrid system from 2027. One of these could potentially be the next Civic Type R."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...the-end-of-an-icon-but-dont-panic/ar-AA1Gb4UT

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64984345/honda-civic-type-r-sales-end-europe/

 

[someguy115]

just stumbled on this (bottom line up front: still all speculations as far as U.S. sales)

"Known as the Civic Type R Ultimate Edition, the car at present is only destined for the European market, with just 40 build slots up for grabs. Buyers who miss out will still be able to opt for the standard Civic Type R in the Old Continent before sales wind up there sometime in 2026."

"Honda hasn't said whether it plans a similar final edition for the U.S., though given the typical five-year lifecycle for its products, the Civic Type R in its current form should remain on sale here at least through the 2027 model year."

"No changes have been made to the mechanical package. The Civic Type R makes do with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4, rated at 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mounted up front and drives the front wheels only, via a 6-speed manual transmission. "

"The Civic Type R isn't likely to be absent in Europe for long. While Honda hasn't addressed plans for the next generation of the car, an electrified powertrain is almost certain. Senior Honda executives hinted at the possibility of an electric Civic Type R as recently as the start of this year, though given the automaker's recent shift toward hybrids, a gas engine paired with an electrical system is more likely than a purely electric setup."

"In May, Honda said it was scaling back its investments in EVs and would instead focus on hybrids for the near-to-mid term. This new focus will include the launch of 13 vehicles featuring a next-generation hybrid system from 2027. One of these could potentially be the next Civic Type R."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...the-end-of-an-icon-but-dont-panic/ar-AA1Gb4UT

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64984345/honda-civic-type-r-sales-end-europe/

Half those statements contradict each other, heh. Proof that really nobody knows.

"the Civic Type R in its current form should remain on sale here at least through the 2027 model year" is quite the bold one- when almost everybody is certain the FL5 wont even make it all the way through 2026- let alone 2027. Vik is actually the only person I've ever seen or heard say the FL5 will be made through 2027- and that statement even directly contradicts Honda who has strongly hinted that their new generation lineup would be starting MY27

At the end of the day, I don't think the CTR will be gone forever. The current regulations and financials of the FL5 specifically are hazy at best. I would put money on the car being sold in 2026. I would NOT put money on the car being sold after March of 2026, however. The question is- Will Honda bother releasing 6 months of MY26 cars, or just continuing to sell them as MY25 and save the overhead on the paperwork knowing they will sell anyway, despite being "2025" cars.

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