Honda Prelude officially returning to US after quarter-century

It’s official. After nearly a quarter of a century, the Honda Prelude will be returning to the US market. Honda will be bringing its flagship coupe stateside in late 2025. While hard core enthusiasts yearning for a VTEC kick or Type SH handling might be disappointed, a sleek coupe is something that’s been sorely lacking from Honda’s — or any automaker’s — lineup for years, and its return is a welcome one.

Honda hasn’t disclosed any powertrain info, other than that the Prelude will be a hybrid. Most believe that it will use a similar powertrain as the Honda Civic Hybrid, which uses dual electric motors — one to power the front wheels, one to charge the battery — mated to a 2.0-liter four. Overall system horsepower is estimated to be about 200, the same figure that the BB6 Prelude’s H22 generated when it left the market in 2001.

Though Honda says the system uses an “e:CVT”, they probably shouldn’t. It doesn’t employ the dreaded belt-and-pulley type CVT that has become the bane of the automotive industry. There’s actually no transmission at all. In most cases the wheels are driven by an electric motor. The engine can power a generator which juices the electric motor, and in most cases the car’s speed is independent of the engine speed. However, at higher velocities a clutch can engage the engine to help drive the wheels in conjunction with the electric motor.


Why are we telling you this? Because the hybrid Prelude will be the first Honda to incorporate a feature called “S+ Shift”. Essentially, it lets the e:CVT give the illusion of gear changes, with a “sharp shift feeling” and revving noises to mimic an engine soundtrack. You can hear what that sounds like in the video above.

It’s not all smoke and mirrors, though. S+ Shift also has a “shift hold” function that behaves as if you’re holding a gear longer in a traditional transmission. It “maintains the optimal engine speed according to the driving condition, maximizing the use of engine-generated power for driving force when reaccelerating.” Honda says this shortens  the electric motor’s response times and provides a feeling of linear responsiveness.

We know many drivers will lament the lack of a manual transmission. The new Prelude won’t be a hard core sports coupe like its predecessors, but perhaps it won’t feel entirely like a commuter either. The way Honda is showing it on beachside drives certainly evokes its status as a glamorous premium coupe. At least it’s not a Prelude-Cross. We’ll know more as its release date draws nearer.

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12 Responses to Honda Prelude officially returning to US after quarter-century

  1. BlitzPig says:

    Fake engine sound for a fake sports coupe.

    Hard pass, and I’m a former Honda true believer.

  2. Daniel says:

    how much weigth? same as the old generation?

  3. Taylor C. says:

    Trying to think of all the Honda vehicles that flopped over the years, There’s the early SUVs that were rebadged from Isuzu, there was the Acura Vigor, there was the 1st generation Insight, the last NSX. But then it seems like these latter batch of cars have fallen into the realm of “more popular the second time around” category. I wonder if the Prelude will do the same. I can’t really think of any other FWD touring coupe that it will compete with, maybe the upcoming Celica? or Maybe a rebadge Nissan version (think merger collab).

    I’m trying to figure out which demographic this car would be catered for in today’s age.

  4. Lee L says:

    I really hope these faux shifts and engine noises will be a trend that goes away very quickly. I know the point is to draw interest from people who traditionally don’t like electric cars, but I don’t think it’s going to work.

  5. Lee L says:

    Also, bets on how long it takes someone to put a K series with a big turbo in one of these?

  6. dankan says:

    I kinda like it. No, it’s not a sports coupe, but the Si still exists and the Type-R is there for those who are serious drivers. It’s pretty smart thinking by Honda to basically make an ice cream car using bits and pieces they have conveniently on hand (the platform and engine are widely used across Honda’s models) and if they want to do a sporty version, they could always just take the Type-R/Integra suspension and slap that on.

    It’s not a sports car, but the market doesn’t seem to have much appetite for those any more. It’s a car for the moderately successful person probably entering middle age who wants to reward themselves with something nice and doesn’t want a “truck.” Personal luxury coupes are a pretty small niche, but given what Honda are doing, this makes it much easier to fill that niche and make the car economically viable.

    And they need to save money any way they can if they’re going to have that forced marriage with Nissan and Mitsubishi like the reporting claims.

  7. Negishi no Keibajo says:

    Is it technically that difficult to make a paddleshift than the pedestrian CVT?

  8. Out of curiosity, what’s stopping them from putting the K20 available in the current Civic / Integra / TLX into a 2400lb or less 2-door?

  9. Jim Daniels says:

    I think the drive system is what most vehicles in America should be. Like a train that’s fuel motors power a generator. This is a much better option than a pure EV for most drivers. It gives the best of both worlds. EV and a fuel powered generator for extended range. Stlantis is doing this with their RamCharger also. But being a Stalantis vehicle I am sure they will continue their lack of reliability and quality.

    So Honda will be the bench mark in this technology.

    Now, for looks ummm, it looks like they took a 350Z and added a new front fascia and rear. When you are not dealing with drive-lines you can make some amazing shapes but it appears that did not happen with this Prelude.

  10. BlitzPig says:

    Re badge is as a Nissan, and call it a Silvia.

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