The car world has become a strange place. Everywhere you look, you see SUVs that resemble oversized trainers and electric cars so quiet you can hear your own thoughts. But then, from the land of the rising sun, Honda drops a surprise that makes our hearts beat a little faster: the return of the Prelude. Yes, that legendary coupé that stole the hearts of petrolheads in the ‘80s and ‘90s is back. But before you dig out your old leather jacket and start dreaming of pop-up headlights and roaring engines, let’s take a look at what this sixth-generation Prelude really has in store.
Let’s start with the good news: the Prelude isn’t some dull crossover. No raised hatchback with an identity crisis. No, this is a proper, honest-to-goodness two-door coupé. Long, low, with a bonnet that looks like it could house a couple of bodybuilders. The design is sleek, with a hint of NSX-like flair at the front and muscular flanks that remind you of the CR-Z, but without its slightly nerdy vibe. Honda calls it a “glider-inspired shape.” Gliders? Seriously? I see more of a shark ready to devour the motorway. It’s 80% done, they say, and if the final result comes close, it’ll be a stunner. But beauty alone doesn’t make a sports car.
Now for the bad news. If you were hoping for a fire-breathing, rear-wheel-drive rocket that would leave a Toyota GR86 or Subaru BRZ in the dust, you might want to sit down. The Prelude is a hybrid. Yes, you read that right. No roaring VTEC, no six-speed manual, but a self-charging hybrid powertrain, likely borrowed from the Civic e:HEV. We’re talking a 2-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, delivering power expected to be slightly above the Civic’s 184 hp. Peppy enough for a quick run to the shops, but let’s be honest: this isn’t a Type R. And no, there won’t be a Prelude Type R either, because Honda doesn’t want to steal thunder from its own Civic Type R. What a missed opportunity.
But hold on, Honda has a trick up its sleeve: the S+ Shift transmission. Sounds like something from a sci-fi flick, but it’s actually a clever CVT that pretends to be a dual-clutch automatic. It simulates gear changes, complete with engine noise that rises and falls like you’re in a proper sports car. A gimmick? Maybe. But if it works, it could make the driving experience a tad more exciting than your average hybrid. And let’s be real, a CVT that doesn’t sound like an asthmatic vacuum cleaner is already a win.
The chassis, though, promises something good. Honda based the Prelude on the Civic’s platform, but with a shorter wheelbase and wider stance for extra agility. And here’s where it gets interesting: the front suspension and adaptive dampers come straight from the Civic Type R, the car that smashed the front-wheel-drive lap record at the Nürburgring in 2023. That means the Prelude, despite its hybrid heart, has serious sporty ambitions. Pair that with a GT driving mode alongside Comfort, Sport, and Individual, and you’ve got a car that might just be more than a Civic with two fewer doors.
On the practical side, the Prelude has a large tailgate, with hinges above the rear window, giving you surprisingly generous boot space. Handy for a golf bag or a weekend getaway, but let’s be honest: nobody buys a coupé to move their mother-in-law and her antique wardrobe. The interior? Honda’s keeping that under wraps for now, but prototypes show a centre console with a button-style gear selector, an electronic handbrake, and a posh finish with blue-white leather and stitching that looks like it was done by an Italian tailor. Sounds promising, but here’s hoping Honda sticks to its signature, clear dashboards and doesn’t fall for the trend of giant touchscreens that look like someone left a tablet in the car by mistake.
The Prelude isn’t a pure sports car but a sporty GT that aims for driving fun and efficiency. With fuel consumption around 5 litres per 100 km, it’s frugal enough to ease your conscience, but will it deliver the “joy of driving” that Honda boss Toshihiro Mibe is so lyrical about? We’ll find out in September 2025, when the production version is unveiled. Europe gets it in early 2026, and the Netherlands and Belgium are thankfully on the list. But let’s not get carried away. The Prelude has a heavy legacy to live up to. Its predecessors were pioneers, with innovations like four-wheel steering and torque vectoring. This new generation needs to bring more than a pretty face and a clever CVT to do that name justice.
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