2 weeks Ago By Jack Mortimer
Honda has shared more information about an attractive new performance coupe that revives an iconic name last seen nearly 25 years ago. Based on the popular Civic hatchback, the Honda Prelude will be a compact sportscar that the company hopes will revive the 'joy of driving' that many motorists experienced with previous generations, built from 1978 to 2001. However, despite the growing trend of retro-themed new models, the upcoming Prelude has particularly modern styling, with a distinctive set of thin LED headlights that closely follow the lines of the bonnet and a wrap-around grille.
Unlike previous models, the little Honda's styling is particularly minimalist, with features including flush-fitting door handles, a thin rear lightbar and a black roof that masks the top of the front and rear windscreens helping it to avoid a cluttered appearance. Nevertheless, the new Prelude does offer plenty of styling features drivers would expect to find on a performance car, such as a glossy black front bumper with air vents and a substantial lip, a small rear spoiler, and black alloy wheels with red brake calipers. Whiile the exterior of the Prelude is particularly unique, the upcoming sportscar's interior looks surprisingly familiar, with many elements being taken from the latest version of the Civic.
Nevertheless, owners will get an attractive set of bucket seats, in light grey and dark blue, which are divided by a large centre console featuring an unusually-shaped gear selection system and a switch for drive modes. While it would be foolish to expect the Prelude to be a particularly practical car, the little Honda is also confirmed to come with four seats, albeit with limited headroom thanks to the low roofline. Honda has yet to say just how fast the upcoming model will go, but the new Prelude will use the same e:HEV full hybrid powertrain currently seen in the Civic, comprising of a 2.
0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor. These combine to produce around 300bhp; however, drivers will likely feel like they have even more power under their right foot, with the Honda Prelude piping additional noise into the cabin for a more authentic performance car experience. The model will also see the introduction of the Japanese company's new S+ Shift automatic gearbox, which is said to change gears faster in order to get the best out of the power generated from the engine.
While there is still a lot to learn about the upcoming revival of the Honda Prelude, Hans de Jaeger, Senior Vice President of Honda Motor Europe, confirmed that the model will go on sale in the UK from early 2026. He explained: "The Honda Prelude is an iconic nameplate, and this latest model promises to build on that heritage with our trademark hybrid performance and the latest dynamic technology. "All with a view to not only delivering exceptional efficiency, but also the fun-to-drive performance for which this model is known.
We are excited for its arrival in Europe following a very positive reception so far.".
