2025 Honda Prelude hybrid sports car confirmed for showrooms

Honda has officially confirmed it will restart production on a new Prelude sports coupe, previewed by a concept unveiled at last year’s Tokyo motor show.

So far only confirmed for the European market, Honda told media in Tokyo that the Prelude will be a global model made in both left- and right-hand drive, opening the door for the sporty coupe to arrive in Australia.

Last year, Australian trademark filings for the Prelude name were also registered by Honda, indicating a possible return of the nameplate after the fifth-generation model exited local showrooms in 2001.  

According to Honda, the hybrid coupe will “deliver the perfect balance of exhilarating driving pleasure and outstanding efficiency”, though the brand has not yet confirmed drivetrain details.

It is rumoured however, the Prelude will use a variation of the 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain already in service in the Civic, Accord, and CR-V, and could be tuned to deliver 154kW to the front wheels like its predecessors.

For reference, the powertrain in the Civic outputs 135kW/315Nm, while under the bonnet of the larger Accord sedan and CR-V SUV, power and torque is increased to 152kW/335NNm.

Despite its sleek silhouette and aggressive aesthetics, don’t expect it to be a track-carving weapon, a Honda executive told media in Tokyo, as the nameplate will serve as a ‘prelude’ to the brand’s future electric cars.

Still, the Civic e:HEV able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in around 7.0 seconds, and with the Prelude potentially delivering more power, Honda’s latest should be more than a match for the Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, and Mazda MX-5 in a straight line.

Honda Motor chief engineer and large project leader Tomoyuki Yamagami said the new Prelude’s hybrid powertrain will be a boon in the sports car segment.

“Ensuring this model maintains its ‘sporty’ DNA by perfectly blending the efficiency and environmental advantages of electrified driving with an exhilarating experience behind the wheel – liberating users from their daily lives with increased driving pleasure,” Yamagami said.

“In addition, the Prelude demonstrates the continued importance of hybrid powertrains as part of Honda’s automobile electrification strategy – a key step towards our commitment for 100 per cent of new vehicle sales to be battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell by 2040.”

This isn’t the first time Honda has produced a sporty hybrid as the CR-Z three-door hatchback was released in 2011 featuring a 1.5-litre petrol-electric powertrain with a combined output of 90kW.

Crucially, the CR-Z was available with a six-speed manual gearbox, as well as a continuously variable transmission option, but it remains unclear what the new Prelude will offer.

The second-generation NSX supercar was also a hybrid, teaming a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 with three electric motors for a combined 427kW/645Nm worth of punch.

Exactly when can we expect the new Prelude? The Honda executive in Tokyo revealed the brand is targeting a mid-2020s global launch for the car, indicating production could kick off as early as next year.