Japanese carmaker unveils sports coupe for electric age

FANS of Honda will remember the Prelude — produced over five generations from 1978 to 2001 — and now emerging as an all-new sports coupe for the electric age.

Returning after 25 years away, the sixth-generation model is now called the Prelude e:HEV sports coupe and makes the most of the Japanese carmaker’s hybrid technology.

Indeed, in line with the exhilarating acceleration of EVs, this new Prelude pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with the company’s lightweight dual electric motor automatic transmission.

The 184PS (135kW) system offers “true driver exhilaration”, says Honda, utilising an advanced hybrid powertrain and the innovative Honda S+ Shift.

For the first five generations, as a two-door coupe loosely derived from the popular Accord, the Prelude was the first Honda to feature a moonroof, a feature that remained standard equipment throughout its production.

Returning after 25 years away, the sixth-generation model’s exterior design is inspired, says Honda, by the “timeless grace and elegance of gliders”.

The new vehicle has a wide, low stance, which is complemented by suspension technology from the Civic Type R, plus adaptive dampers and the latest iteration of Honda’s Agile Handling Assist (AHA). This approach extends to the interior, which echoes that of a glider’s cockpit, combining comfort and practicality with premium materials and the driver-assistance safety system, Honda Sensing.

Hans de Jaeger, senior vice president, Honda Motor Europe, said: “The Honda Prelude’s return has been eagerly anticipated by driving enthusiasts around the world since we first exhibited the concept model back in October 2023.

“This nameplate has always been a showcase for cutting-edge and innovative engineering, and this latest iteration is no exception.”

Through sound simulation, “feel and driver engagement” of quick automatic gear changes, the Honda S+ Shift helps the Prelude “deliver a new dimension in exhilarating driving pleasure”.

The latest development of Honda’s Linear Shift Control, the system works in combination with Active Sound Control (ASC) to correlate engine sound, revs and road speed for a more natural feel when accelerating.

This technology has evolved to create a virtual eight-speed transmission. This is controlled via the steering wheel paddles, ordinarily used to control the level of regenerative braking. When Honda S+ Shift is not engaged, this allows the driver to shift through the gears as per a manual transmission.

When changing down, drivers will also experience a comforting engine braking effect, providing even greater throttle control and a rev-matching throttle “blip” to match.

Utilising more than 25 years of hybrid experience, the Prelude features Honda’s full hybrid e:HEV powertrain.

There is also an array of drive modes to choose from, which can be used to switch between four options at the touch of a button — Comfort, GT, Sport and Individual — each of which fine-tunes the characteristics of the hybrid powertrain, suspension and steering response to suit the driver’s needs.

The new Prelude features suspension technology that has been engineered to provide a balance of great handling and comfort.

Once inside, the interior has been created to deliver a driver-focused feeling of control and exceptional visibility, featuring high-quality materials and an uncluttered layout that allows occupants to enjoy the vehicle’s careful craftsmanship.

Included is a choice between a pair of exclusive two-tone material finishes that feature either a white-and-blue or black-and-blue theme. This is typified by a customisable 10.2-inch driver display that features unique Prelude graphics and coloured themes tailored to each drive mode.

There is also the latest in connectivity with Honda’s responsive nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay, with wireless connectivity, and Android Auto, alongside a rich and powerful eight-speaker audio system jointly developed with Bose.

Despite its sleek exterior profile, Honda claims the new Prelude offers “both space and usability”, with seating for four occupants, alongside a large hatchback tailgate that provides 663 litres of luggage space.

Customers can also choose from four exterior colour options, including a new rich Moonlit White Pearl, plus Meteoroid Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl and Racing Blue Pearl.

Safety is also a high priority, with the latest Honda SENSING system carefully tuned to deliver enhanced driver support.

In addition, the Adaptive Cruise Control, Road Departure Mitigation System and Lane Keeping Assist System have been carefully recalibrated to suit the model’s character.

The new Prelude is expected to cost in excess of £40,000.