There’s a lot to unpack in terms of what can be expected from the upcoming Prelude, starting with what the nameplate implies. 22 years ago, when the last model was on sale in the USA, the Honda Prelude made up to 200 horsepower from its 2.2-liter VTEC 4-cylinder engine. In Type SH guise, it came with only a five-speed manual, although regular Preludes could be had with an auto ‘box. Power was directed to the front wheels on these models.
Considering it’s likely to go toe-to-toe with the GR86, which makes 228 hp and 184 lb-ft from its 2.4-liter four-cylinder, Honda will be looking to beat those outputs. We also see Brembo brakes on the concept, suggesting the need for strong stopping power. Nothing has been confirmed besides it being a hybrid, though, but a four-cylinder engine and one or two electric motors are likely.
The use of a hybrid powertrain instead of a fully electric one provides a glimmer of hope that Honda will consider a manual gearbox, although with Honda culling manuals from models like the Accord in recent years, an automatic is more likely. 0-60 mph times in the low six-second range would be enough to qualify as “sporty” while also giving the Prelude comparable performance to the discontinued Civic Si Coupe.
Being a hybrid, the Prelude will likely share underpinnings with the Civic or Accord, the former being more likely considering the Prelude’s compact proportions.
Considering Honda’s president, Toshihiro Mibe, made a big deal of the upcoming Honda Prelude as a ‘specialty’ model that will embody driving thrills and be focused on enjoyment, we don’t expect the Prelude to let us down in terms of performance. Revealing the car to the world with the suggestion to “keep expectations high” for the Honda Prelude feels like a promise to enthusiasts that the Prelude will be groundbreaking in some ways.