Honda will suspend production of the Civic Si and Acura Integra A-Spec with a six-speed manual transmission after the 2026 model year. However, the company has already stated that it plans to bring both versions back in the future. Now, Honda's American sales executive, Lance Woelfer, has confirmed that demand for manual transmissions continues to decline, but the brand still sees value in such cars.

According to Woelfer, the manual transmission is gradually becoming a product exclusively for enthusiasts. Honda does not expect demand to grow, but believes that models like the Civic Si, Integra, and Civic Type R are still capable of attracting buyers precisely because of the driving experience.

It is indicative how much the situation has changed in recent years. Honda once offered manual transmissions even on quite ordinary models – Civic, Accord, and Fit. Now, in the brand's American lineup, three-pedal cars are essentially concentrated around sports versions.

However, the disappearance of manual transmissions is not only due to buyer preferences. Honda explained the pause in production of the Si and Integra A-Spec by changing business conditions and engine 1.5 Turbo certification requirements for 2027 and subsequent years.

There is also a good example of why Honda is not rushing to close this direction. In 2025, the share of Acura Integra buyers who chose a manual transmission increased to 22%. That is, in niche sports models, demand for three pedals remains quite noticeable, even if it is declining across the entire market.

As a result, Honda's strategy looks quite pragmatic: not to try to sell manual transmissions to the mass market, but to keep them where they truly influence car choice. For the manufacturer, this means fewer transmission options, and for enthusiasts, a chance to keep manual transmissions for a few more years.