Honda unveiled a new electrified Prelude Concept at the Japan Mobility Show, giving us an expected future electric sports coupe.
Honda used the show to display several concepts and ideas, including a vehicle that could work as a moving meeting room, a car made of acrylic resin, and a Honda Avatar Robot meant to handle tasks remotely. Although unique and interesting ideas, these three possibilities are far from reality, but the new sporty electric car wearing the Honda badge isn’t as far from reality. This new concept could easily be the future version of the Prelude, resurrecting a name from the 1980s and 1990s.
An exhilarating Honda returns
If this Prelude concept returns to the lineup, it will be an exciting and enticing electric sports coupe. This certainly follows in line with what the original Prelude brought to the market. The previous model of this car was a two-door, front-engine, FWD sports car, which was a lot more fun than expected. The Prelude was a huge hit with drivers in the 18-25-year-old range, making it the perfect car for young adults to experience a great drive and have a lot of fun.
Will this new Prelude be a hit?
Some drivers will likely be up at arms over a new Honda Prelude without the loud exhaust and tunable 4-cylinder engine, but they could get over that feeling quickly. This new electrified sports coupe could be exciting and fun, as most electric cars tend to be. Resurrecting the name could bring some of the original owners back into the fray, ready to buy a new electric version of the Prelude with its striking styling and amazing acceleration. This is a chance for Honda to stretch their sports-performance muscles in a car that wears a recognizable name.
Could the first Prelude be a hybrid?
Honda currently utilizes the GM Ultium platform for its electrified Prologue SUV, which hits the market for the 2024 model year. In the same way, we’ve gotten used to teaser images and campaigns from automakers, we’re not entirely certain the new Prelude will be an EV. Honda leaders hit that this new car could come as a hybrid two-door coupe instead of a full EV. The team only mentioned electrification at the Japan Mobility Show without confirmation of a full EV as the future vehicle that we’ll see. Of course, this new car could be a full EV once it hits the market, but Honda isn’t confirming or denying it.
Styling that reminds us of another Honda
When you first see the new Honda Prelude Concept, it’s likely you’ll be reminded of the 10th generation Honda Civic. This concept sports coupe has triangular rear side glass, a sloping roofline, and curved lines that separate the hood from the fenders. These qualities are all reminiscent of the Civic. Could this mean that the new Prelude will look more like the Civic than being a new creation? It’s certainly possible. Of course, this also means the Civic can be made into a two-door coupe, which hints at a sportier version of the Civic for the future.
Does this new Prelude add to Honda’s attractiveness?
The new Prelude could be the icing on the cake for those who have admired the Acura/Honda lineups for many years. The Acura Integra came back with the Type S variant to make it more interesting and fun, and a new Civic that could once again be a coupe adds to the mix. The Prelude rounds out the trio of performance models in the compact car segment, but it might not be the Prelude that some drivers want, especially if it’s offered as a full EV.
For Honda lovers, it seems the wishes of three performance-oriented compact cars weren’t specific enough. Those who longed for the Honda offerings of old might be a little disappointed that the new Prelude won’t come as a gas-powered sports car, but once they hit that accelerator pedal, things could change in a hurry. The Civic, Integra, and Prelude could all be part of Honda’s offerings once again, fulfilling the wishes of most Honda enthusiasts.
When will the new Prelude hit the market?
As of the Japan Mobility Show, the Honda Prelude Concept is only an idea and a concept car that could enter production or be left on the shelf for future use. If Honda moves forward with the production of the Prelude, this car could easily hit the market in the next two model years as a 2026 version. Will this be when the Prelude returns to claim its former glory?
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