Honda’s reborn Prelude sports car will be available in the UK as early as next year, the automaker confirmed. The coupe will make its first public appearance at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place this weekend.
A concept version of the Prelude debuted last year at the Japan Mobility Show, and that car looked remarkably ready for production. Based on the photos Honda just shared, not much was changed, which is a good thing. The low, slinky proportions carry whiffs of the Honda NSX at the rear, while the front has a bit of Toyota Prius to it. That full-width running light bar and cursive font for the nameplate feel eerily similar to the Porsche 911 or the Taycan, but those premium offerings are not bad examples to emulate.
Though there are still no powertrain specifics, we do know that the new Prelude will be a hybrid. It will likely use some version of the hybrid system you’d find in other Honda models, like the Civic Hybrid, which pairs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder gas engine with a pair of electric motors – one for generating electricity and another for providing propulsion.
As for how the car will feel to drive, Honda says the Prelude will “deliver the perfect balance of exhilarating driving pleasure and outstanding efficiency.” Reading between the lines there, it sounds like all-out pace isn’t the raison d’être for this model. In fact, Honda’s large project chief engineer Tomoyuki Yamagami told Australian CarsGuide as much last November: The new Prelude “isn’t going to be the sportiest, zippiest car that’s going to be tossed into the circuits.”
While some folks may lament that, we’d offer up another Japanese darling, the Mazda MX-5, as a counterpoint. That car spurns the stopwatch in favour of making everyday commutes feel a little extra special, and that’s the entire reason we adore the thing. If the Prelude succeeds in making normal drives a bit more exciting – whilst maximising every drop of fuel along the way – who’s going to poo-poo that idea?
As a Mark 4 owner, I have mixed feelings about the Mark 6. On one hand I’m glad the naming convention is being kept alive, but on the other hand I’m sad to see it being hybridised.
I hope the car will be quicker 0-60 than my own 6.9 seconds. It would be good to see if Honda can improve the mid range pick up as well.
Stirling wise, I’m glad Honda kept the same long bonnet styling queues (Also VERY happy they didn’t turn it into a crossover, like the Capri ABOMINATION had become). Overall, I will reserve judgement until it’s released then take a test drive to see if it thrills me as much as my own baby
They managed to make it produce less power than the last Prelude, well over 20 years ago. Fail.
Does anyone out there know of any way to make my 1998 Prelude compliant to ULEZ ?