Honda Prelude Concept

2026 Honda Prelude interior shown – e:HEV coupé with simulated gearshifts, full reveal later this year

In Cars, Honda, International News / By Jonathan Lee / 2 April 2025 7:10 pm / 2 comments

Honda has revealed the interior of its reborn Prelude as the hybrid sports coupé inches ever closer to reality. The car is currently on display at the Formula 1 Tokyo Fan Festival ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, having been paraded (with recently-discarded Red Bull Racing driver Liam Lawson behind the wheel) alongside the Honda 0 SUV at the Red Bull Showrun earlier today.

As expected, the Prelude’s cabin is very similar to that of the Civic, given that it is based on the C-segment sedan. You get the same 10.25-inch digital instrument display and nine-inch freestanding infotainment touchscreen, similar three-spoke steering wheel and buttons, mesh-covered air vents and chunky physical air-con control knobs.

There are some subtle differences, of course. Unlike any 11th-generation Civic (not even the hot Type R), the Prelude uses a slightly flat-bottomed steering wheel, replete with a 12 o’clock marker. The air vents are also smaller and hexagon-shaped instead of taking up the entire width of the car.

But it’s on the tall centre console where the biggest difference lies. Here, you’ll find a push-button gear selector that’s typical of Honda hybrids overseas (not here), running right down the middle. It’s flanked by a parking brake button on the right and the drive mode selector and a massive S+ button on the left, with the cupholders placed further aft. Also fitted are what appear to be nicely supportive bucket seats with distinctive high shoulders.

Not much is yet known about the Prelude, but Honda has revealed that the car will get the company’s latest e:HEV hybrid technology, consisting of new, more efficient 1.5 litre and 2.0 litre direct injected engines and a smaller electric drive motor.

The centrepiece technology is a new S+ Shift mode, which simulates gearshifts in a similar fashion to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. It’s also been reported that the car will get the Civic Type R’s torque steer-reducing dual-axis MacPherson strut front suspension and adaptive dampers.

It’s been more than a year since the production-intent Prelude Concept was showcased at the Japan Mobility Show, with the car also being shown at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) late last year. It looks like development is moving along nicely, so are you excited to see the hallowed nameplate coming back to showrooms? Sound off in the comments after the jump.

GALLERY: Honda Prelude Concept at KLIMS 2024

2 comments | Leave a comment?
2026 Honda Prelude to get Civic Type R’s adaptive dampers, front suspension – S+ Shift demonstrated

In Cars, Honda, International News / By Gerard Lye / 18 December 2024 4:01 pm / 8 comments

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.

8 comments | Leave a comment?
2026 Honda Prelude first details – next-gen e:HEV hybrid with S+ Shift mode to simulate gear changes

In Cars, Honda, International News / By Jonathan Lee / 18 December 2024 1:56 am / 6 comments

Perhaps Honda Malaysia is prescient – exactly two weeks after the company showed the Prelude concept at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS), Honda has released the first concrete details of its highly-anticipated sports coupé.

First of all, the Japanese carmaker has announced that the car – set to be revealed late next year – will be a global model, with sales starting in Japan and the US before moving to Europe in early 2026. It has also confirmed the Prelude’s worst-kept secret: that it will be a hybrid utilising an e:HEV dual-motor setup.

Specifically, the car will come with next-generation hardware. Honda has outlined some changes coming to both 1.5 litre and 2.0 litre versions of the e:HEV system, including all-new direct-injected engines designed to achieve a the most efficient stoichiometric air-fuel ratio in all driving situations without compromising power.

In particular, the 1.5 litre mill is said to be much more frugal by expanding its optimal rev range (balancing efficiency with torque) by over 40% compared to the existing four-pot. As yet, it is unclear which of the two powertrain options the Prelude will actually come with, but we’d hazard a guess that both will be offered. Also new is the front drive unit (i.e. the electric traction motor) that is smaller, more efficient and cheaper to produce, along with the integrated cooling system.

There are other efficiency improvements, such as tweaking how the engine transmits torque to the wheels (via a lock-up clutch) at higher speeds, adding electric assistance to the engine direct drive mode to expand the range of operation, and optimising the conversion of petrol to electric power. These help provide a claimed fuel consumption reduction of more than 10% compared to current technology.

Part of that improvement also comes down to the new midsize platform, which is said to be 90 kg lighter than before, with the goal of creating the lightest platform in the class. Honda is aiming the overall car to be 10% lighter than outgoing e:HEV vehicles, thanks to a simplified body structure that can be made to flex to control the load on each tyre when cornering.

The e:HEV system is still fundamentally the same as before, using the petrol engine more as a generator to juice the traction motor, with no mechanical connection to the wheels save for the aforementioned lock-up clutch. This means that unfortunately, as mentioned in previous reports, there will be no manual option offered on the Prelude.

To keep enthusiasts somewhat happy, however, Honda has added a new S+ Shift mode which – as the name suggests – simulates gearshifts in a similar fashion to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N‘s N e-shift. This is a development of the Linear Shift Control feature already fitted to e:HEV models, starting with the latest Jazz in 2020, matching engine revs to the speed of the car.

The Honda Prelude concept was at KLIMS just two weeks ago

S+ Shift goes one step further, enabling the driver to “shift gears” using paddles on the steering wheel; it will also “hold the gear” when cornering. If the S+ moniker sounds familiar, that’s because it was last used on the first facelift of the CR-Z back in 2013, providing maximum power from the hybrid system at the push of a button. The “S” also harks back to Honda’s sports roadsters such as the S600 and S800, S2000 and S660.

Completing the range of improvements coming to e:HEV models is a new electric all-wheel-drive system that adds another motor to drive the rear wheels, with the torque distribution varying depending on the tyre load when accelerating, braking and cornering. Again, it’s unclear if the Prelude itself will get the technology.

New images show a car that’s practically identical to the concept (save for it being in the original white, rather than the red as shown at KLIMS), with one key difference – the windows are transparent, evidence of a proper interior. In any case, given that the original show car looked pretty much production-ready, expect not much to be changed when the real deal goes on sale next year.

HONDA Prelude 2

HONDA Prelude 1

GALLERY: Honda Prelude concept at KLIMS 2024

6 comments | Leave a comment?
Red Honda Prelude Concept debuts at KLIMS 2024, hybrid coupe’s first Asian appearance outside Japan

In Cars, Honda, Local News / By Danny Tan / 4 December 2024 5:52 pm / 6 comments

Here it is, the star of the 2024 Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS). Of the handful of concepts at MITEC, the Honda Prelude Concept stands out the most partly because it’s a coupe (two-door cars are just sexier and no one can argue against that) and partly because it bears a famous old name.

The Prelude name, used by Honda for its atas coupes, was last seen on the fifth generation, which production ended in 2001. Malaysians would be most familiar with the third and fourth generation Preludes, depending on their age.

The late 80s third-gen was the one with 4WS four-wheel steering (yes, it was already around then) and pop-up headlamps, while the fourth-gen was famous for its big VTEC engine and spaceship cockpit. Every now and then, you can still see the latter on Malaysian roads, although many have been heavily modded. The fifth-gen with the square lights is a rare sight here.

Fast forward to 2023 and the Prelude badge – in old-school cursive style – would reappear on a concept car at the Japan Mobility Show. That JMS car was in white, which looks less eye-catching than the red show-stopper at KLIMS 2024.

The coupe sports features a sharp front end, slim headlights and front grille, a sweeping glasshouse and full-width taillights. It’s supposed to preview a production Prelude due to be revealed next year, but no technical details were revealed at JMS and it’s the same case here – the Prelude is still at the styling concept stage.

We only know of Honda’s intention for it to be a hybrid. The carmaker’s current e:HEV system consists of an electric motor doing the primary job of powering the car, juiced by a petrol engine that can also drive the car directly using a single-speed transmission and a lock-up clutch.

Never mind the details, let’s just enjoy the sight of it now, at KLIMS 2024.

GALLERY: Honda Prelude Concept at KLIMS 2024

6 comments | Leave a comment?
Honda Prelude Concept at KLIMS 2024 – hybrid coupé to be shown for first time in Asia outside of Japan

In Cars, Honda, Local News / By Jonathan Lee / 22 November 2024 7:05 pm / 5 comments

Honda Malaysia (HMSB) has announced it will showcase the Honda Prelude Concept at the 2024 Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS), happening from December 5 to 11 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). This marks the first time the hybrid coupé will be making an appearance in Asia since its world premiere at the Japan Mobility Show last year.

The show car, which features a sharp front end, slim headlights and front grille, a sweeping glasshouse and full-width taillights, is set to preview a production version due to be revealed next year. No technical details have been revealed just yet, but it will likely utilise a version of Honda’s e:HEV powertrain that is used in the likes of the City, HR-V, Civic and CR-V.

This setup consists of an electric motor doing the primary job of powering the car, juiced by a petrol engine that can also drive the car directly using a single-speed transmission and a lock-up clutch. This means that unfortunately, despite rumours to the contrary, the car is unlikely to have a manual transmission.

Still, the Prelude would be the first “affordable” Honda coupé since the CR-Z was discontinued in 2016. The car may not be the only highlight at the Honda stand, as HMSB could very well introduce the facelifted Civic, given that it has yet to launch the second of the two new cars it promised at the start of the year.

GALLERY: Honda Prelude Concept at Japan Mobility Show 2023

5 comments | Leave a comment?
Honda Prelude confirmed for the UK – two-door hybrid sports coupe to be launched as soon as next year

In Cars, Honda, International News / By Gerard Lye / 9 July 2024 11:59 am / 6 comments

Honda has confirmed the sixth-generation Prelude will be sold in the United Kingdom, with Autocar reporting the model could go on sale there as soon as next year. Before that happens, the concept version of the two-door coupe will be shown in Europe for the first time at this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The Prelude Concept originally made its debut at last year’s Japan Mobility Show in white, but the show car destined for the UK is finished in a vibrant red. Beyond the colour change, there aren’t any discernible changes noticeable, which is a good thing if you liked how production-ready the concept looked when it was revealed. As it was then, there are still no shots of the interior.

“The original Prelude made its European debut 45 years ago and served as a thrilling, high-performance showcase of Honda’s cutting-edge technology for five generations until 2001. The new model promises to be a fitting return for the renowned nameplate, as it delivers a compelling blend of style and sophistication alongside a hybrid powertrain,” the company said in its release.

While details of the hybrid powertrain are unknown for now, it is said the reborn Prelude will use a variation of the e:HEV system found in cars like the CR-V, Accord and Civic. Speaking to Australia’s CarsGuide last year, Honda large project chief engineer Tomoyuki Yamagami said, ”this isn’t going to be the sportiest, zippiest car that’s going to be tossed into the circuits, so that’s one thing.” Could the Prelude’s output figures be about on par with those in the Civic? We’ll have to see.

The same Autocar report suggests the upcoming Prelude will share its bones with the current Civic, have a 2+2 seat layout and be front-wheel drive. It will be a global model aimed at both left- and right-hand drive markets.

6 comments | Leave a comment?
Reborn Honda Prelude will be a four-seat coupe – launch sometime in 2025 for RHD and LHD markets

In Cars, Honda, International News / By Gerard Lye / 10 November 2023 11:03 am / 2 comments

According to a report by Australia’s CarsGuide, the production version of the Honda Prelude Concept will be launched sometime in 2025 as a global model for both left- and right-hand drive markets.

“This is a prototype and we are still in development, so as president [Toshihiro] Mibe mentioned, although the exact timing cannot be shared at this time, we’re aiming at making this available to the market sometime in the mid-2020s,” said Honda large project chief engineer Tomoyuki Yamagami, who also led the development of the current, 11th-generation Civic.

“Yes, this is going to be positioned as a global model, so we will have both left-hand drive and right-hand drive,” he added. No powertrain details were provided, but the reborn Prelude is expected to feature a hybrid engine, as revealed by Honda’s United States division following the Prelude Concept’s debut at this year’s Japan Mobility Show.

If you’re expecting the Prelude to be driver-focused in the same vein as the Civic Type R or Acura Integra, bad news ahead. “This isn’t going to be the sportiest, zippiest car that’s going to be tossed into the circuits, so that’s one thing,” said Yamagami.

“The other one is, this is going to be the ‘prelude’ for all of the electric vehicles that Honda is going to be launching. So that is why, because it’s going to be one of the first such models, we thought the name Prelude just best fits this model. We’re developing this as a four-seater, so you will be seeing a second row with two seats available as well,” he continued.

So, the Prelude will come back as a practical four-seater (2+2) with hybrid power and a coupe body. However, it will likely be more of a grand tourer (possible front-wheel drive) rather than an out and out sports car to take on models like the Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ and Mazda MX-5. Sounds good to you? Since it will be a global model, perhaps the Prelude will come to Malaysia as well? Fingers crossed.

GALLERY: Honda Prelude Concept at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show

2 comments | Leave a comment?
Honda Prelude Concept is actually a hybrid, not an EV

In Cars, Honda, International News / By Gerard Lye / 1 November 2023 9:29 am / 0 comment

Remember the Honda Prelude Concept that made its debut at this year’s Japan Mobility Show? As it turns out, the show car is actually a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and not a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) as reported previously.

Confirmation of this comes directly from Andrew Quillin, who is the senior manager of public relations at the American Honda Motor Company. In a series of replies on X (formerly Twitter), Quillin said, “to clarify … Prelude Concept is hybrid-electric, not full BEV.”

He added that the press release did not clearly specify what sort of the powertrain the concept used, with the text in the release being the speech given by Toshihiro Mibe, president and CEO of Honda. “This model will become the prelude for our future models which will inherit the ‘joy of driving’ into the full-fledged electrified future and embody Honda’s unalterable sports mindset,” said Mibe.

Many automotive sites, including us, assumed it to be fully electric given Honda’s electrification plans. The lack of an exhaust on the vehicle – typical of concepts – also led many to believe this to be the case.

With all of that cleared up, how do you feel about the Prelude Concept being a hybrid rather than an EV? Does it change how you feel about it? The NSX came back as hybrid, so it’ll be interesting to see what Honda comes up with if and when the Prelude Concept transforms into a series production model.

To clarify … Prelude Concept is hybrid-electric, not full BEV.

— Andrew Quillin (@andrewquillin) October 25, 2023

You’re absolutely right. Press Release did not specify.

— Andrew Quillin (@andrewquillin) October 25, 2023

GALLERY: Honda Prelude Concept at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show

0 comments | Leave a comment?
Honda Prelude returns as a sporty 2-door hybrid

In Cars, Honda, International News / By Gerard Lye / 25 October 2023 12:07 pm / 16 comments

“Honda has always been committed to creating sporty vehicles,” said Toshihiro Mibe, president and CEO of Honda, during his press conference at the ongoing Japan Mobility Show. Today, the Japanese carmaker is demonstrating that commitment by presenting this, the Prelude Concept.

UPDATE: It has been confirmed by the American Honda Motor Company’s PR team that the Prelude Concept is actually a hybrid and not an EV. This post has been updated.

Fans of the brand will know that in recent years, Honda has been bringing back a few famous names. The NSX made a return in 2016 but will soon be ended (again), and following that, the Integra made a return as an Acura model (the name was also used for the Civic in China).

Now, the Prelude gets its time in the spotlight, although Honda isn’t confirming if it will eventually become a series production model. The official word from the company is, “this model will become the prelude for our future models which will inherit the ‘joy of driving’ into the full-fledged electrified future and embody Honda’s unalterable sports mindset.”

As such, the Prelude Concept previews Honda’s electrified future, specifically sports cars that focus on driver engagement and driving performance. Or as the carmaker puts it, “offer exhilarating experience that makes you want to keep going forever and extraordinary excitement you never felt before.”

There are zero details on the Prelude Concept’s hybrid powertrain or the platform it is built on, but it certainly looks attractive. The two-door body is shaped in a way that is reminiscent of the previous coupe versions of the Accord and Civic, with notable cues being the prominent front lip, retractable door handles, wide-width taillights, a rear spoiler and a hammerhead shark-like front fascia.

The overall design doesn’t look overly outlandish as most concepts tend to be, and we dare say it looks pretty much production-ready. Honda said last year that it will introduce two sports car models as part of its electrification plans, with one being a specialty model while the other is a flagship model.

The former was mentioned by Mibe during the press conference, where he said, “at the automobile electrification business briefing we held last year, I talked about future sports models. Today, to conclude my presentation, I would like to show you one of them – the specialty sports model.” That certainly sounds like affirmation that the Prelude Concept will be made into something customers can buy. Looking forward to it?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Honda 本田技研工業 (@hondajp)

16 comments | Leave a comment?