A lot of people have a lot of things to say about the new, hybrid-only Honda Prelude, and not all of them are positive. Honda’s all-in on the car, saying its engineers’ focus “was to uncover the latent demand for the ideal sports car.”
Despite its electrified powertrain, the Prelude gets some of the Civic Type R’s suspension and braking components. Honda also said it optimized the car’s wheelbase and fitted larger wheels to improve handling, but it’s unclear how much pent-up demand there is for a car with very limited rear-seat space.
The Prelude is expected to get a massaged version of the Civic Hybrid’s powertrain, which produces 200 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. Some expect more power and torque, but the car will retain its front-engine, front-drive format.
Honda hasn’t detailed all of the car’s specifications, but has said it will come with a simulated shifting system, and the automaker didn’t lean into using a CVT, improving the chances of a legitimately engaging driving experience. Additionally, the rumor mill is already churning with whispers of hotter Prelude variants to come.
The Prelude is expected to get a Type R or Type S upgrade in the future, but a potential performance version likely wouldn’t arrive until 2027 or 2028 at the earliest, given the standard model’s late 2025 rollout.
[Images: Honda]
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