Concept Honda Prelude will become a reality

Although shown as a concept at the Tokyo Mobility Show last month, Honda has confirmed that the Prelude will re-enter production before the end of the decade.

Not a EV

Originally based on the Ballade before moving an architecture ultimately used by the Accord, the Prelude will reportedly retain its standing as a world model, meaning availability with both left-and-right-hand-drive in production spec.

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Unveiled in Tokyo powered by a later confirmed hybrid drivetrain as opposed to the full electric initially reported, the production Prelude is anticipated to retain the same powertrain configuration, unlike previous generations, which utilised normally aspirated petrol engine with no forced assistance throughout their five generations and 23 years.

In confirming the Prelude for the mass market and as a global model, Honda’s Chief Engineer for Large Products, Tomoyuki Yamagami, told Australia’s carsguide.com.au, “as President [Toshihiro] Mibe mentioned, although the exact timing cannot be shared at this time, we’re aiming at making this available to the market sometime in the mid-2020s.

Past rivalries not renewed

Confirming to the publication that the Prelude won’t be competing against the Toyota GR86 as its predecessors did against the Celica, Yamagami said, “this isn’t going to be the sportiest, zippiest car that’s going to be tossed into the circuits, so that’s one thing,

“This is going to be the ‘prelude’ for all of the electric vehicles that Honda is going to be launching. Because it’s going to be one of the first such models, we thought the name Prelude just best fits this model,” he said.

In revealing the Prelude, Mibe told the assembled media, “We know our customers are expecting one more thing from Honda, and that is sports models.

“The Prelude Concept is a specialty sports model that will offer exhilarating experience that makes you want to keep going forever and extraordinary excitement you never felt before”.

More in due course

For now, no further details surrounding the Prelude’s date-of-reveal or powertrain are known, however, expect more information to become apparent heading into the 2024 and also 2025.

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