After being previewed as an idea since October 2023, the Honda Prelude has now made its official debut as a manufacturing mannequin that’s now open for order taking in Japan and also will go on sale in the USA in late fall.
Showing just about like a carbon copy of the idea, the reborn Prelude (codenamed BF1) is a classy two-door sports activities coupe that includes a shark nostril entrance finish, slim headlamps with an higher daytime operating mild bar, a swooping roofline, a cab-forward profile and flush pop-out door handles.
A rear hatch opens to disclose a 2+2 cabin with a rear 60:40 split-folding bench that may be put down to supply extra cupboard space. As for the entrance of the dwelling house, you’ll discover a dashboard that’s much like that of the Eleventh-generation Civic, with acquainted objects being a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster, nine-inch infotainment touchscreen and digital air-conditioning controls.
There are some noticeable variations between the Prelude and the Civic, with the previous sporting a flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel with a 12 o’clock marker. The air vents are additionally hexagonal in form and uncovered quite than behind hidden behind a full-width mesh.
Of extra significance is the centre console that homes a push-button gear selector as a substitute of a gear lever. That is flanked by a swap for the digital parking brake in addition to the drive mode selector (Consolation, GT, Sport and Particular person) and a button to interact the brand new S+ Shift mode. Should you’re questioning what that’s, S+ Shift is Honda’s identify for a system that emulates a digital eight-speed transmission and permits the motive force to “change cogs” utilizing paddles on the steering wheel.
Honda says this “exactly controls the engine rpm throughout acceleration and deceleration to understand direct drive response and sharp gear shifting really feel as if the car incorporates a stepped transmission system.” Together Lively Sound Management (ASC) that pipes engine sounds via the in-car audio system, each techniques serve to make the driving expertise extra thrilling, which is important as a result of the Prelude is a hybrid.
Stated hybrid system is taken from the Civic e:HEV and is Honda’s Clever Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) primarily based round a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine operating on the Atkinson cycle. Rated at 141 PS (139 hp or 104 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 182 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm, the LFC-H4 engine works with an electrical motor to behave as a generator for a battery.
That is then used to energy a traction motor with 184 PS (181 hp or 135 kW) and 315 Nm to drive the entrance wheels. The engine may also be clutches in to straight driving the wheels at greater speeds when it’s extra environment friendly to take action. Whole system output is listed at 203 PS (200 hp or 149 kW).
Whereas the Prelude shares its hybrid system and bones with the Civic e:HEV, the previous does obtain some upgrades to its chassis reflective of its sporty persona. As an example, the dual-axis strut entrance suspension and adaptive dampers are taken from the Civic Sort R, as are the four-piston Brembo brake callipers on the entrance completed in Prelude Blue – rotors are 13.8 inches on the entrance and 12 inches on the rear.
Honda Agile Dealing with Help can also be touted as being enhanced to enhance steering responsiveness and stability throughout cornering, with a newly prolonged vary of utility together with braking. That is mentioned to allow seamless line-tracing from turn-in to nook exit, contributing to enhanced stability of car habits even in troublesome conditions resembling impediment avoidance. The driveshaft can also be described as having uniform rigidity to suppress torque steer and improve steering stability.
When it comes to obtainable tools, the Prelude comes with 19-inch black wheels (with 235/40 profile tyres), wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay assist, a wi-fi cellphone charger, an eight-speaker Bose sound system and a full Honda Sensing suite.
For the Japanese market, the Prelude is priced from 6,179,800 yen (about RM177k), which is significantly greater than the Civic that sells for between 3,544,200 and 4,403,300 yen (RM101k and RM126k) – these costs embody consumption tax.
If we examine the top-spec Civic (e:HEV EX) to the common Prelude there, the latter is roughly 40% dearer. Want much more worth comparisons? The Prelude in Japan is dearer than the common Civic Sort R that sells for 4,997,300 yen (RM143k) and the Accord that ranges from 5.599 million to five,999,400 yen (RM160k to RM171k). In share phrases, the Prelude prices almost 24% greater than the Civic Sort R, and round 3% greater than the most costly Accord variant (e:HEV Honda Sensing 360). The Civic Sort R can also be provided in a Racing Black Package deal variant there priced at 6,179,800 yen (RM177k), which is priced identically to the Prelude.
Imagining a world the place the Prelude is bought in Malaysia and thru extrapolation, the hybrid coupe would theoretically (key phrase) promote for RM235,060 if we apply the 40% mark up on the present, locally-assembled (CKD) Civic 2.0L e:HEV RS (RM167,900), or almost RM495,876 if we apply the 24% up on the fully-imported (CBU) Civic Sort R (RM399,900).
Japan additionally will get the Prelude in an unique Honda ON Restricted Version priced at 6,480,100 yen (RM185k) that incorporates a Moonlit White Pearl exterior paired with a black-painted roof and aspect mirrors. Common variations of the Prelude gained’t have the black roof and aspect mirrors, though the latter is an obtainable possibility from the real equipment catalogue together with varied different aesthetic upgrades.
Customary hues provided are Moonlit White Pearl, Meteoroid Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl and Flame Pink, whereas the inside is in a blue and white theme or blue and black (Moonlit White Pearl solely). The US-market Prelude is available in Winter Frost Pearl (with both a body-coloured or black roof), Meteorite Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Rally Pink and Increase Blue Pearl.
GALLERY: 2026 Honda Prelude (Japan market)
GALLERY: 2026 Honda Prelude (United States market)
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