Europe getting new Honda Prelude—a U.S. version is likely

Article content

• Honda says it’ll build a production version of its Prelude Concept and market it in Europe
• A revamped version of the concept will make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
  
• After bowing some 45 years ago, the nameplate’s laid dormant since 2001

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Europe getting new Honda Prelude—a U.S. version is likely Back to video

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

The perpetual presence of smartphones and instant-on communication means there aren’t an abundance of true surprises in the car industry anymore, yet Honda pulled a bit of a fast one at the Japan Mobility Show last year when it dropped a concept Prelude coupe which looked wholly ready for production. Today, the brand confirmed that model’s planned entry into the European market.

Or perhaps we should say “re-entry.” After all, the Prelude nameplate first appeared some 45 years ago, sticking around for five generations until it was dumped in the 2001 model year. The red machine on these digital pages is still technically a concept, and it will show up at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this month, but Honda has confirmed the production model will return to – at minimum – the European region. Rumours strongly suggest it’ll land ashore in North America, too.

A simple glance at the Prelude confirms it could be a tremendous foil to the Toyota GR 86 and Subaru BRZ, even if Honda is asserting there will be some level of electrification in the model when it reaches market. This doesn’t mean it will be all-electric, rather deploying some sort of hybrid powertrain on which company engineers have yet to spill many beans.

“The new Prelude not only marks the latest chapter in our ever-evolving hybrid story,” said Tomoyuki Yamagami, Chief Engineer and Large Project Leader, Honda Motor in a statement. “It is also the product of 25 years of pioneering hybrid research and development.”

Toggle full screen modePrevious Gallery Image

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Next Gallery ImageToggle gallery captions

View All 8 Photos

1 of 8

All 8 Photos for Gallery

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 

Function Not Available

Full Screen is not supported on this browser version.

You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.

OK

Done right, there’s nothing wrong with that type of grunt in this type of car; tuned correctly, it could provide the best of both worlds, with ample low-end gumption from the electric motors while a gasoline-powered engine fills in the upper range with a quick-revving high-rpm engine that could come only from Honda. Guesstimates place power at just over 200 horses. The expense of hybridization could mean it’ll be more expensive than a GR 86, though we’re just glad for a new coupe in the world instead of yet another crossover.

The appearance of this announcement also gives us a great reason to run photos of an original Prelude, shown here in white and with right-hand-drive. Back then, the car measured 4,090 millimetres (161.0 inches) long and just 1,290 mm (51.8 inches) tall. By the time it departed in 2001, it had grown by nearly 500 mm in length, though its height was roughly the same. In contrast, today’s Civic is about two feet longer and four inches taller than an OG Prelude.

Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on Instagram ,Facebook and X to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.