Say hello to the new Honda Prelude

US spec for now, but coming to Europe next year...

By Matt Bird / Friday, 5 September 2025 / Loading comments

So the Honda Civic Type R may have met its maker in Europe (RIP good friend), but its spirit lives on in this new Prelude. That’s not just marketing fluff, either, as there’s shared hardware between the two - we’ll get onto that in a sec. The important thing to kick off with is that this, at last, is the production spec Prelude, just debuted in the USA (where it will go on sale first) ahead of a European arrival in 2026. It looks an awful lot like the concept, it’s a two-door coupe when the world seemed to have given up on them, and it’s proof that Honda does still care about making interesting cars. They must all be considered positives.

As for that shared hardware with the FL5 Type R, Honda is keen to point out that the Prelude boasts the dual axis front strut suspension (which worked so well in combatting any torque steer) and four-piston Brembo brakes from the hatch. Good news as well, given how good middle pedal feel was in the Civic. An adaptive damper setup is standard, also donated from the you-know-where, the tracks are said to be wide (against what it isn’t clear), and Honda reckons that the Prelude will offer ‘precise steering, responsive handling and fun-to-drive feel to deliver an engaging grand touring experience, while remaining comfortable for everyday driving’. Probably to be taken with a pinch of salt, but coming off one of the best front-wheel drive cars ever made we’ll take Honda’s word for it. At least for now…

Where the Prelude and Type R differ most notably is in powertrain, the coupe using a 200hp hybrid arrangement where the Civic was famously turbo petrol and manual only. The Prelude’s power comes from an evolution of the standard Civic E:HEVs setup, with an Atkinson cycle 2.0-litre in cahoots with a small battery and pair of electric motors. The big change is in the introduction of something called the Honda S + Shift system, which introduces virtual gearshifts via paddles to the e-CVT transmission. It’ll deliver rev matched downshifts when cranked to its most aggressive S+ mode, hold onto gears when it deems appropriate and offer up ‘enhanced driving engagement’ according to Honda. Those wanting a manual in America will be directed to the Acura Integra Type S; over here, for now, buyers will have to make do with the S + Shift.

The inside of the Prelude is definitely more Civic than Type R, too, perhaps understandably enough. Previous concepts have kept the inside hidden, so this is our first chance to see… well, lots of Civic bits. And some smart seats, which aren’t actually the same as each other: ‘Firm padding and more prominent lower thigh bolsters provide the driver with a secure seating position, while the passenger enjoys a wider, more relaxed seat for everyday comfort’. So there we are. Honda calls the Prelude a 2+2, with split folding rear seats and 427 litres of boot space. Standard kit includes 19-inch wheels, Google built-in, Bose sound and a 10.2-inch driver’s display.

Let’s not forget the most important bit of Prelude equipment, too: it’s an actual coupe, very deliberately styled to look like one, and looking nothing if not distinctive in the process. The world needs more of that. Front engined and front drive means the silhouette isn’t exactly classic coupe, and the rear deck is perhaps a bit long, but the light signatures are smart (as is Prelude Blue), a double bubble roof is cool, it doesn’t seem ginormous on the road and it’s a coupe that very much adheres to the traditional definition of the genre. And isn’t a five-door SUV with a slopey roofline. So that’s most definitely a tick in our book.

This is just the start, moreover. There seems little reason why this Prelude couldn’t spawn a Type S or R in time with a little more attitude. For now let’s be happy that Honda has committed to an interesting project it surely could very easily have mothballed. Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales (it says here) added of the Prelude: "We are thrilled to be bringing back such an iconic nameplate to the Honda lineup. The Prelude's return demonstrates our commitment to exciting, fun-to-drive vehicles and will help to accelerate our hybrid-electric sales in the years ahead." The European launch is next month; expect the Prelude on sale early in 2026.