The Honda Prelude revival is generating quite the buzz and in the latest development, the Big H will apparently be positioning the new model as its latest halo car. According to AutomotiveNews, who sat in on Honda’s conference with dealers and media at the recent National Automobile Dealers Association convention in New Orleans, Honda is betting on the new Prelude to be its latest performance icon.
Just a few months back, Honda officially announced the Prelude’s return after a nearly 25-year hiatus. Since the first version that debuted in 1978, the Prelude endured five series production generations, becoming one of the company’s most iconic sports cars. Honda discontinued the nameplate in 2001 after dwindling demand.
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The Next-Gen Prelude Will Be Marketed As The Company’s Performance Car
With Honda positioning the Prelude as the brand’s performance icon, that would make it Honda’s first dedicated and standalone affordable sports car since the S2000. Honda did produce the NSX, which we got here as the Acura NSX, and it served as the automaker’s halo car for both Honda and Acura for about six years between 2016 and 2022.
But with a starting price well into six figures, it wasn’t exactly affordable or attainable for all. Honda also produces the Civic Type R, but that’s based off the Civic. The S2000, however, was Honda’s last true affordable sports car and although the Prelude will be sharing its backbone with the latest Civic Hybrid, it won’t be a spin-off of a preexisting model.
The Honda S2000
lived for two iterations; AP1 and AP2, from 1999 to 2009. Since then, Honda hasn’t produced an affordable standalone sports car to fill its shoes. Full specifics and details for the Prelude remain sparse. But what we do know is what the new sixth-generation Prelude will look like. Rumors also suggests that the Prelude will be essentially a rebodied Civic Hybrid. But it’ll feature a long list of upgrades in the chassis, suspension, and powertrain departments to separate itself from its Civic Hybrid roots.
Those upgrades are also anticipated to make the Prelude drive more like a sports car. Speculation points to the usual, such as tweaks to the steering, suspension, and chassis components for improved road feel and handling, revisions to the powertrain for peppier throttle response and delivery, and potentially, even more power. However, nothing’s been officially confirmed.
One of the focus areas for the Prelude’s powertrain is Honda’s e-CVT system, which is supposedly unique to some other hybrid systems developed and used proprietarily for Hyundai and its hybrids and Toyota for its vehicles. Despite the Prelude’s intent to be a sports car, some have already criticized the company’s use of a CVT transmission. There’s also no indication that Honda will give the Prelude a manual transmission.
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Honda Confirms The Prelude’s Return To The U.S. With Hybrid Power
After months of speculation and teasers, the Honda Prelude will return stateside in late 2025.
The OG Prelude Was A Legend In Its Own Right
The previous Prelude became a cult favorite and an icon for Honda as it helped pioneer a number of modern automotive technologies. Such includes the world’s first active mechanical four-wheel steering system in a mass-produced vehicle. Released on the third generation model in 1987, the system, called “4WS,” enabled the Prelude to handle just as well, if not better, than some of the world’s top sports cars.
Over the years, the Prelude continued carrying the torch as one of the best-handling cars of its time, proving that front-wheel-drive cars were just as performance-capable as some of the best rear- and all-wheel-drive cars. With such big shoes to fill, the new sixth-generation Prelude undoubtedly has a lot to live up to.
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