The rumors have been swirling since around this time last year, but now it’s confirmed. Honda has revived the Prelude name on a new sports coupe boasting an electrified powertrain. While not a drop-dead stunner like the Mazda concept revealed earlier in the day, the Prelude is still a fairly decent design, as far as modern Hondas go.
To us, however, it looks more like a ninth-generation Accord Coupe than a Prelude. Preludes have always camouflaged their front-drive bones with long-hood, short deck proportions that would look more at home on a rear-drive car. The greenhouses tended to be set back, but the Prelude concept has a distinctly cab-forward design. Unlike the Mazda Iconic SP, which inherited design cues from several sports car models and generations, the Prelude doesn’t appear to have much Prelude DNA in it.
“The word ‘prelude’ means an ‘introductory or preceding performance’. This model will become the prelude for our future models which will inherit the ‘joy of driving’ into the full-fledged electrified future and embody Honda’s unalterable sports mindset,” CEO Toshihiro Mibe said during the unveiling.
“The Prelude Concept is a specialty sports model that will offer exhilarating experience that makes you want to keep going forever and extraordinary excitement you never felt before,” he continued. “In order to offer the “joy of driving” only Honda can realize, we are diligently progressing with development, so please keep your expectations high for this model.”
Honda did not disclose any concrete information about the car, but it’s likely a hybrid or PHEV version is in the works. Looking back, we should’ve predicted the Prelude from the moment the Prologue name was announced for Honda’s electric SUV.
Looks like a Toyota Prius coupe at the moment. Kinda weird?
But, I wish nothing but the best for it nonetheless
Another gorgeous car I’d be very interested in with a 2.0 and a manual transmission.
Looks better than most new Hondas I’ve seen.
Hopefully coupes aren’t dead after all.
👍
Can’t wait to see someone K-Swap one of these. 🙂
Nice looking coupe. Would like to see a little more “notchback” in the design though, like Preludes of yore….and something that NO car is sporting these days….Could be a distinguishing feature. Not talking about a heavy notch, just a bit or hint of C pillar and decklid as different planes, ya know?
I will need to see more pictures but the initial vibe is a cleaned up GR-86/BRZ. Second vibe is a Caymen influence. Not good vibes for a car that is supposed to be a tribute to previous Preludes. Overall a nice design but no where as stunning as the Mazda Iconic SP as you noted.
I remember when the first generation Prelude came out. It was more a “secretary’s runabout” than the serious canyon carver it would eventually morph into by the last generation. They always had a very distinctive and upscale look that separated it from the crowd.
The second generation was a real looker (especially in red), and had a nose that was purportedly lower than that of mid-engined Ferraris of the era. I almost bought one before realizing I needed space for the family.
This latest generation is inoffensive to the eyes, but otherwise nothing special. The DNA is closer to early Celica with its bulbous, top heavy stance (reminds me of a guppy). Preludes need to appear lower to the ground and more sharply creased, even in this age of aero. Do we know which studio designed this?
Nothing remotely distinct or exciting about this, and it’s a anything-goes concept. Does not bode well.
Really not trying to be negative here, but I just can’t get excited.
While I would rather have an Urban E than this car, I’m not mad about this at all. They could be a bit more adventurous, but compared to how the Integra looks, this might as well be a Picasso. I’m also entirely content with this being an EV coupe because it’s 2023, ICE engines are going away and no amount of being a curmudgeon is going to fix that.
I also think this is totally fitting of the Prelude name since the Prelude was always Honda’s Avant Garde platform for taking risks with technology. Sure the BB-generation Preludes looked radically different but a CA6 Accord coupe and BA5 were pretty similar, the 1st gen Prelude also took a lot of its design from the CVCC Accord/Civic.
My 88 all original blue ‘lude SI was one of my favorite cars. Just like the one pictured. Big mistake when I sold it to a young guy who destroyed it within a couple of months as it ended up in the scrap yard. This new one might be my entry into an EV. We’ll see……
As someone whose only Japanese car of the moment is a 2015 Nissan Leaf we’ve had since 2016, I’m super excited about this! We only plug the Leaf into a regular wall outlet and use it as our in-the-city commuter. The battery is still as healthy as when we bought it (or near enough to have the same range). And, even though it is the most barebones Nissan Leaf, it can blow the doors off a lot of unsuspecting cars from 0-45, due to instant torque.
I’ve been a little frustrated that other than Mini’s EVs, most other options seem to be CUVs. As someone who has owned an 85 RX-7 GSL-SE, an 86 Mustang SVO, and an 88 and 89 Chrysler Conquest (aka Mitsubishi Starion), I’m glad to finally have the option of a two door coupe EV!
Oh, and I personally like it when a car’s greenhouse is a bit taller. That was one of the best features of the 05 Mini I also have owned — terrific visibility due to the very upright cabin.
The top photo is of a car that looks production-ready, not a rad concept. More fitting of the Integra name than the recently released 4-door, but Honda lost the plot decades ago!