American Honda opens doors to Honda Collection Hall in California

Cold Tea Collective had a sneak peek of the new American Honda Collection Hall in Torrance, California, earlier in the summer. It is now open to the public with free “Cars, Bikes & Coffee” events starting in October 2023. Visitors can learn about the history of bringing this Japanese brand to America in 1959 and how its focus on innovation and efficiency has driven it to be an automotive market leader for several decades.

The Honda Civic, Accord, Prelude, CRX, HRV, and expansion of its collection under the Acura brand with the Acura Integra, Legend, NSX, and RSX (to name a few) made their way onto the driveways of Asian American homes and into influential cornerstones of pop culture from film, television, music, and more.

This is our list of our favorite Honda cars through the years currently displayed at the Honda Collection Hall.

Honda Civic

The Civic was and has been one of the most accessible vehicles from the day we got our learner’s permit. From its price point to flexibility and an expression of our drive to pursue our dreams, the Civic is a car that is the definition of a glow-up. 

First introduced to the U.S. in 1973, the Civic remains America’s best-selling small car, with global sales nearing 30 million. Last year, the Honda Civic was named the 2022 North American Car of the Year.

For many, the Honda Civic was the first vehicle for young drivers and first-time car buyers. I vividly recall getting picked up in my friend’s black Civic Hatchback. We cruised, talked, or did donuts in fresh snow when I was a teenager more than 15 years ago. 

Fast forward to summer 2023, Civic Nation had its special moment at the 88rising Head in the Clouds Festival in Los Angeles. As the festival’s first official automotive partner, the “88 Type R Honda Customs Shop” tuner car garage featured the iconic 2000 Civic Si Hot Wheels-branded project car and the all-new 2023 Honda Civic Type R — the most powerful Honda production vehicle ever sold in the U.S.

Also displayed were limited edition apparel capsules in the “88 Type R Honda Customs Shop” at Head in the Clouds. The unisex collection included cut-and-sew pieces inspired by the Asian car culture scene of the late 1990s to early 2000s. 

“Honda’s support of music and young breakthrough artists spans more than two decades, and our partnership with 88rising will give voice to their stories of imagination and determination,” said Phillip Lee, media department lead of Honda Marketing. “88rising elevates and empowers Asian artists, and Honda is proud to provide a platform to help support their dreams and advance their careers.”

See also: Cruising into nostalgia with Honda at Head in the Clouds

Honda Prelude

I can’t help but reminisce about how Honda vehicles were a quintessential part of my youth. In the early 2000s, my high school’s parking lot was filled with various Hondas. The Honda Prelude coupe was an iconic part of that lineup. My friend’s cool older sibling drove the Prelude and my younger brother drove one for many years, too. I loved seeing it again in the new American Honda Collection Hall. 

Honda CRV

If you didn’t first learn to drive in your parents’ CR-V in the early 2000s, did you even learn to drive? Jokes aside, I can’t tell you how often I went to late-night drive-throughs with my friends in their parents’ CR-Vs. The most popular and recognizable colors were silver and green. 

See also: Formula 1 and Zhou Guanyu – Race for All Races

Honda S2000

Devon Aoki’s hot pink Honda S2000 in 2 Fast 2 Furious — need I say more? In the second installation of the Fast franchise, the Japanese American model and actress shines bright as “Suki.”  

This was the first time I saw a cool Asian female who wasn’t just an accessory to the story. Seeing her race formidably against male racers in her Honda S2000 introduced us to the idea that, as Asian women, we’re in the driver’s seat of our lives. 

Suki’s style and unapologetic confidence to the design of her car inspired a generation of young Asian women. Her character became a role model that defied stereotypical depictions of Asian women in media.

Acura Integra to RSX 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t include my first-ever new car, the 2022 Acura RSX. The RSX opened up a new world of freedom. You could’ve caught me cruising during free blocks to hustling to various work and lifestyle activities for years to come. 

I even went as far as to get aftermarket black rims with red paint details and self-installed an audio deck . I proudly showcased my “DJ name,” NJeezy (cringe all you want; it was the early 2000s) on it.

Read more about my nostalgic reflections in our Head in the Clouds Festival coverage.

Driving generations forward

Whether buying our first car in our youth or a newer vehicle for our growing families, Honda has been a trusted automotive brand for Asian Americans for decades — and for many more years to come. The brand will also release an all-new hybrid-electric Honda Civic in the near future. 

Learn about iconic pieces of automotive history that influenced generations of Asian Americans at coldteacollective.com or visit the American Honda Collection Hall. Find out when and where at hondacollectionhall.com.