Honda will relaunch one of its best-known sports cars in the next two years after leaving it on the back burner for almost a quarter of a decade.
The Japanese company has confirmed the return of the Prelude, which will return to UK showrooms in 2025 as a high-performance hybrid coupe.
The Prelude was originally launched in Europe in 1979. The last example to bear the name (the fifth generation car) went out of production in 2001 and has not been used since.
To whet the appetite of car enthusiasts, the car will make its UK debut this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The Prelude’s interlude is about to end: the Honda sports car will be back in production some 25 years after the last model went out of production. Here’s what we know about the new hybrid coupe
Honda hinted at a revival of the sports car name late last year when the Prelude Concept was a surprise unveiled at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show.
But on Monday, the Japanese automaker confirmed it will return in the mid-2020s as a two-door coupe, likely using the same hybrid powertrain that currently powers the Civic hatchback.
When it eventually arrives in UK dealerships, it will be exclusive to the market, as it is expected to be the only front-wheel drive coupe on sale in the UK, along with models such as the Volkswagen Scirocco and, more recently, the Audi TT, which were discontinued last year.
The first Honda Prelude (pictured right) hit European dealerships in 1979. Four more generations followed.
Possibly the most popular Prelude in the UK in terms of sales was the fourth-generation car pictured, which was on sale from 1992 to 1996.
The last Prelude, the fifth generation model, was withdrawn from sale in the UK in 2001 and the brand has not been used since… until now.
The Prelude not only celebrates the return of Honda’s sports car, but also 25 years of the Japanese brand’s use of hybrid power. Honda’s first hybrid was the 1999 Insight (pictured, left) and the company has used gas-electric powertrains in both the CR-Z (second from left) and the NSX supercar (second from right).
Its relaunch is part of Honda’s celebration of 25 years of using hybrid power, dating back to the 1999 Insight.
However, the new Prelude will be seen by most as a spiritual successor to the CR-Z, which was Honda’s first two-seat sports car to use a gasoline-electric powertrain.
Honda discontinued its last high-performance hybrid, the NSX supercar, in 2022.
Tomoyuki Yamagami, Honda’s chief engineer, said it will have a ‘Sporty DNA’ that merges ‘the efficiency and environmental benefits of electrified driving with an exhilarating driving experience’.
He added: “In addition, the Prelude demonstrates the continued importance of hybrid powertrains as part of Honda’s automotive electrification strategy, a key step toward our commitment to have 100 percent of new vehicle sales be battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell by 2040.”
At the front, it has a sloping bonnet and narrow grille. It sits above a bumper divided by a vertical daytime running light that matches the angular headlamps.
The blue hue of the daytime running lights is a nod to the electrified heartbeat of the new Prelude.
The Prelude’s profile is dominated by a roofline that slopes dramatically towards the rear of the vehicle and is not unlike that of the Toyota GR86.
Details on the car’s performance and pricing are scarce at the moment.
It is widely expected to be built on the Civic’s existing platform, including its e:HEV hybrid system.
It combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine, a compact 1.05kWh battery and two electric motors to produce 181bhp while delivering combined fuel economy of just 56.5mpg.
This could be in the works for the Prelude, but Honda has kept this information under wraps for now.
The exterior design is in keeping with the design of Japanese performance cars, with its slender silhouette not unlike that of Toyota’s rear-wheel drive GR86.
At the front it has a sloping hood with a narrow grille.
This sits above a bumper divided by a vertical daytime running light that matches the angular headlights. The blue hue is a nod to its electrified heart.
At the rear, an LED brake light runs along the trunklid above the Prelude badge and there’s a small spoiler and rear splitter.
The Prelude concept has deployable door handles that, when the car is moving, sit flush with the body.
The profile is dominated by a dramatically sloping roofline towards the rear of the vehicle, which combines with muscular rear quarters and flush door handles to give an aggressive, hunched-over look.
At the rear, an LED brake light runs along the trunklid above the Prelude badge and there’s a small spoiler and rear splitter.
The interior hasn’t been revealed, but it’s likely to take a minimalist approach with an uncluttered dashboard, a large infotainment screen and bucket seats up front.
With the range-topping Civic e:HEV starting at £39,805, the Prelude is expected to cost more than £40,000 when it arrives in UK dealerships sometime during 2025.
The Prelude concept will make its European debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from 11 to 14 July.
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