The Prelude name has been gone from the Honda lineup for over 20 years, but on Wednesday October 25, Honda released photos and information about what may end up being a strong comeback model. We’ve already seen that Honda and Acura aren’t afraid to resurrect old nameplates (see Acura Integra).
Could this be the next retro name to take us into the future?
Honda Motor Company President Toshihiro Mibe said this during his presentation:
“Everyone, this is the Prelude Concept.
Honda has always been committed to creating sporty vehicles. And the word ‘prelude’ means an ‘introductory or preceding performance.’ This model will become the prelude for our future models which will inherit the “joy of driving” into the full-fledged electrified future and embody Honda’s unalterable sports mindset. The Prelude Concept is a specialty sports model that will offer exhilarating experience that makes you want to keep going forever and extraordinary excitement you never felt before.
In order to offer the ‘joy of driving’ only Honda can realize, we are diligently progressing with development, so please keep your expectations high for this model.”
I speak from experience by acknowledging that the Prelude has always been a winner in the driving enjoyment realm. After all, the 1989 Honda Prelude that I owned when I was 17 years old in high school would ultimately hook me on the Honda brand. And the rich and rewarding ownership experience I had with that car led me to own over 40 other products from Honda and Acura in the 2.5 decades since.
While Mibe did not discuss specifics of the powertrain or other aspects of the car, the rumor mill has been going crazy for the last couple of days with speculation that it was a fully-electric model. Shortly after the press release went live, Honda spokesperson Andrew Quillin clarified that the Prelude will be a battery-electric hybrid as opposed to an EV.
The Prelude set a name for itself for over 20 years, first launching in 1979 as a fun-to-drive, yet economical sport coupe. The second and third generations brought the wedge silhouette and iconic pop-up headlights, the fourth took a more rounded approach, and the fifth introduced advanced handling like “Active Torque Transfer Steering” (ATTS) on Type SH models. It was phased out after 2001.
As a five-time Prelude owner, I am excited to see what this new model might offer. Stay tuned to The ClassicCars.com Journal for news as we learn more about Honda’s latest sport coupe.
I was in Long Beach in 1984, a friend owned a dealership in Az. he knew about the new design of the prelude, I also saw photos, impressed. We made a deal to buy all three of them, for 25,000.00 they only came in three colors, silver, Navy blue, and red, had to give up my 58 Vette, No’s matching, 2 tops,4-speed, dual quads 411 posi, killer of a car, with the right to buy it back, best bang for the buck ever, after putting 120 thou on it my son took it to college drove it another 75 K, Then my daughter drove it last year hi-school and three years in college, only thing I did to it was brakes clutch, battery, oil every 7000,mi. I had three G’s in the Vette, plus I sold the other two, buddy’s got each 8G’s when I sold it in 93 for 4500$,