Honda is going to revive the Prelude sports car: a hybrid coupe will hit the market in a couple of years

It is expected that the production version of the two-door Japanese brand, designed for four passengers, will appear in 2025.

In The Prelude coupe was present in the Honda model range from 1978 to 2001. Over the past time, the model has managed to change generations four times; the two-door of the last fifth generation was introduced in 1996, and updated in 1999. By the way, on the Japanese market the model was also offered in the exclusive “charged” version of Type S. Now some “hot” modifications of Honda and Acura models have a corresponding increase.

In the photo: Honda Prelude for the Japanese market (from 1996 to 2001) 1/3 In the photo: Honda Prelude for the Japanese market (from 1996 to 2001) 2/3 In the photo: Honda Prelude for the Japanese market (with 1996 to 2001) 3/3

More recently, people started talking about the model again: the fact is that at the Japan Mobility exhibition, which was held in Tokyo at the end of last month, Honda presented a concept sports car called Prelude. The company explained that this is a pre-production prototype that will form the basis for the commercial version of the brand’s new model.

It is expected that the new product will inherit a recognizable name, but at the same time this two-door will be larger compared to the coupe of previous generations. The recently shown Honda Prelude prototype has a long hood, running lights are shaped like boomerangs, and below are the main headlight units with a luminous strip that connects them to each other.

Pictured: concept of the new Honda Prelude coupe

An air intake with unpainted plastic inserts is integrated into the lower part of the front bumper, which is combined with a black sloping roof, exterior mirror housings of the same color and black rims. The Prelude concept's taillights are designed as a single thin line running across the entire width of the stern; in addition, it was equipped with retractable door handles and a spoiler at the stern.

There is still virtually no information about the technology of the Honda Prelude prototype. Initially, it was assumed that a completely “green” show car would be presented at the Japan Mobility Show, but a little later the company explained that the prototype had a hybrid “filling”. However, the manufacturer did not share the details.

As the Australian publication CarsGuide reports, citing Honda chief engineer Tomoyuki Yamagami, the future new product, which will be based on the Prelude concept, is now already at the development stage. He also noted that the company plans to release a four-seater sports car with a name familiar to fans of the brand on the market “somewhere in the mid-2020s” (that is, around 2025).

Another company representative noted that the future model will be global: the developers are working on both right- and left-hand drive versions. Tomoyuki Yamagami did not reveal the veil of secrecy over the hybrid power plant that the production model will receive, but explained that the new coupe will not be focused on driving on hardcore tracks, which means it is rather intended for driving on public roads.

Recall that the Acura line included the NSX sports car, but it was retired in 2022. It was previously reported that the model will have a successor, and its “filling” will be completely electric. The prototype of the new product was the Acura Electric Vision concept, presented last summer as part of Monterey Car Week.