- Sixth-generation Honda Prelude arrives next year
- New car likely shares powertrain with Civic Hybrid
- Sole transmission expected to be eCVT
The Honda Prelude has been out of production for more than two decades, but a new generation is coming, and a prototype has been spotted for the first time.
The prototype is only lightly camouflaged, and most of its lines appear to match those of a Prelude concept rolled out at the 2023 Tokyo auto show.
The new Prelude is due out next year as a 2026 model, and like the concept that previewed it, it will arrive as a hybrid.
The powertrain is expected to be the same in the latest Civic Hybrid that arrived for the 2025 model year. The powertrain combines a 2.0-liter inline-4 and an eCVT, and in the Civic Hybrid delivers 220 hp and up to 50 mpg. It also drives the front wheels only.
Honda Prelude concept
But the new Prelude won't simply be a Civic Coupe by another name. Citing comments made by Shinji Aoyama, Honda's global chief of electrification, Motor Trend reported on Oct. 11 the powertrain will be engineered to be sportier in the Prelude, and gave the example of the powertrain delivering a more noticeable sound and feel for its simulated gearshifts.
There won't be the oft-rumored manual option, according to the report. That will also be the case for Honda's upcoming EVs, though Honda has explored the potential of a simulated manual transmission complete with a clutch pedal, like what Toyota plans to put into production.
The Prelude nameplate launched in Japan in 1978 and there have been five generations so far. Historically the cars have been sporty front-wheel-drive coupes with sleek bodywork covering mechanicals from mainstream models, and that appears to be the case with the upcoming sixth generation.
Currently the new Prelude has only been confirmed for Europe, but all signs point to a U.S. return as well.
