Honda’s new Prelude is shown to the media as Senior Managing Executive Officer Katsuji Inoue (right) participates in a photo session, September 4, morning, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo (©Sankei by Masahiro Sakai)
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Honda announced on September 4 that it will launch a new model of its two-door coupe, the Prelude, on September 5, reviving the nameplate for the first time in 24 years.
First introduced in 1978, the Prelude has long been one of Honda's signature coupes. Its stylish design made it highly coveted among young people in the 1980s, but production ended with the fifth generation in 2001.
The sixth-generation model is a hybrid vehicle (HV) that, thanks to Honda's new S+Shift control technology, delivers a driving experience reminiscent of a gas-powered sports car.
The starting price is ¥6,179,800 JPY (about $41,800 USD) in Japan. Honda plans to introduce the new Prelude in North America by the end of 2025 and in Europe in the first half of 2026 as a flagship of its new HV lineup.
Driving the Future
Honda has set a target to more than double its global HV sales to 2.2 million units by 2030 and plans to roll out next-generation HVs from 2027. The S+Shift system is a proprietary technology scheduled to become standard on these next-generation HVs.
By equipping the new Prelude with this technology, Honda says it is offering a first glimpse of the appeal of its next-generation HVs — making the car, in a sense, a "prelude" to the future.
Confidence in a New Classic
At the announcement event, Katsuji Inoue, Senior Managing Executive Officer in charge of Honda's four-wheel operations, expressed confidence in the car, saying it would "become an iconic vehicle" as a new type of coupe in the era of electrification.
The S+Shift system simulates eight-speed gear shifts, precisely controlling engine rpm during acceleration and deceleration to create a driving feel similar to that of a conventional multi-gear sports car. It also generates synchronized engine sounds that coordinate with the instrument panel, enhancing the sense of unity between driver and car.
The suspension and other chassis components are based on technologies from Honda's sports car, the Civic Type R, improving overall driving performance.
Although the domestic market for two-door coupes is currently small — around 30,000 to 40,000 units — Honda has revived the Prelude as an HV model to strengthen its hybrid strategy and enhance the brand's sporty image.
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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