2026 Honda Prelude to get Civic Type R’s adaptive dampers, front suspension – S+ Shift demonstrated

Following the announcement that the all-new Honda Prelude will be launched in late-2025, Japanese media outlets have released their first impressions of the reborn sports coupe. In videos posted by Unadon Strut Enthusiast Car Guide, StartYourEnginesX, Ride Now and more, we get a bit more information about the upcoming Prelude.

According to Japanese journalists, the Prelude is based on a modified Civic platform and will utilise the Type R’s dual-axis MacPherson strut front suspension. This uses additional, highly rigid components to separate the steering axis from the damper axis which not only increases the vehicle’s track width, but also helps minimise torque steer.

Additionally, the Prelude also gets the hot hatch’s adaptive dampers, and there is a GT drive mode available alongside Comfort, Sport and Individual options. The latter fits in with the idea that the Prelude will be more of a grand tourer rather than and out and out sports car. It was also pointed out that the prototype’s suspension wasn’t as firm as the Civic Type R and it used less aggressive Continental PremiumContact 6 tyres.

The videos also provide us with a good look at the interior of the Prelude, which is partially covered up but still familiar to anyone who has been inside the current-generation Civic. The Prelude’s centre console is completely different from the Civic, with a button-type gear selector placed in the middle, joined by controls for the electronic parking brake (with auto hold function), drive mode selector and S+ Shift mode – the cupholders appear to have been moved further back.

On the mention of S+ Shift, journalists were allowed to try out the function that serves to simulate gearshifts in a similar fashion to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N‘s N e-shift. In one demonstration, we can see that the Prelude will have eight virtual gears (the redline appears to be “6,000 rpm”), each one adjusted and timed to match the output of the drive motor and vehicle speed.

Furthermore, the driver will be able to get a “jolt feeling” between shifts too, which should make for a sporty driving experience. Even with S+ Shift switched off, the car will still perform artificial shifts when in Sport mode, while in other drive modes (like GT), the sound generated inside the cabin is reduced for a more relaxing journey.

Based on these first impressions, are you excited for the Prelude? The concept version of the coupe was shown in Malaysia not too long ago at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS), so here’s to hoping we get an allocation.

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