Honda has confirmed that the new Prelude will be available in the United States, little over a year after its surprising rebirth. The hybrid coupe will arrive in late 2025, with a two-motor hybrid powertrain similar to that seen in the Civic and Accord. The production car should resemble similar to the concept Honda has been showing off, and it is expected to be available in 2026.
Honda was initially hesitant to sell the Prelude in America, but it took the vehicle to the Los Angeles Auto Show last year to evaluate customer demand. Customers seem to be intrigued. Notably, this will be Honda’s second resurrected nameplate following the Acura Integra, which returned to North America as a more premium version of the Civic in 2022 and has since had sales success. Nostalgia is effective.
The new Prelude will most likely look a lot like the Civic hybrid beneath, which is a good thing because the current Civic is fantastic. Last year, Honda’s head engineer stated that the Prelude will not be the most sporty car, so don’t expect Honda to build a Toyota GR86 competition.
Honda has also revealed that the Prelude will include a new technology dubbed S+ Shift. The automaker’s two-motor hybrid vehicles do not use a normal transmission; instead, one of the two motors drives the wheels directly most of the time. A lockup clutch allows the engine to drive the wheels at highway speeds. To avoid the characteristic “rubber-band” feel associated with other hybrids and automobiles with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), Honda created a technique known as Linear Shift Control, which resembles the feel of a traditional engine and transmission.
S+ Shift is an evolution of Linear Shift Control, with the goal of giving a more sporty driving experience matching the Prelude brand. Honda did not go into depth about how the technology works, but it appears that the Prelude is aimed for aficionados.
Many details remain unknown, such as where it will be erected and how much it will cost. But we are excited. The Civic hybrid is one of the greatest vehicles on the market, and combining its outstanding hardware with a more beautiful packaging is a good thing.