You know that the Prelude rebirth has been expected for a long time when it makes a second appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and you still cannot buy one. Honda presented a concept at last year’s event and returned this weekend with a prototype almost ready for production.
Unlike its first outing in the United Kingdom, this time, the Prelude climbed the famous hill. Honda also allowed spectators to sit in the completed passenger compartment, a contrast striking with the approach of 2024 when the doors were locked and the windows covered to block the prying eyes.
A new presentation video shot during the festival shows two Prelude variations, including the Boost Blue Pearl car which faced the climb. Essentially, the three -door liftback resumes where the Civic Coupé had stopped and seems quite practical despite its tilted roof. It has a two -part folding rear bench, allowing two passengers to be housed on the rear, provided they are not too large.
As you would expect, the rear visibility is compromised by the thick amounts C, but it is the price to pay for an elegant coupe design. Inside, the arrangement is largely inspired by Civic and the Integra, so most of the elements should seem familiar. Although these two models offer a manual transmission, the sixth generation of the Prelude will be only automatic. The original CR-Z combined a manual gearbox with an electrified powertrain, but unfortunately, this is not the case here.
Although you cannot change speed yourself, Honda has added a S+ button to allow “more precise simulated changes”, imitating an eight-speed gearbox via pallets mounted behind the steering wheel. The simulation does not stop there since the noise of the engine is also artificially amplified. Given Honda’s commitment to electrification and increasingly strict emission standards, a purely petrol prelude with a manual transmission seems unlikely.
Although it was unveiled in October 2023 at Tokyo Mobility Show, Honda remains discreet on technical specifications. However, she confirmed that the prelude will inherit the double -axis front suspension and adaptive civic shock absorbers. It is also supposed to have wider front and rear tracks than the Civic, a shorter wheelbase, a lighter 10% bodywork, increased rigidity, and firmer suspension adjustment.
Do not expect to break time records on the Nürburgring, however. Honda has already said that the Prelude will not be “the most sporty and lively car that will be launched on the circuits. »It remains to be seen if she will be able to show herself up to the inheritance of previous generations. The design does not really refer to the past, but seeing the glass half full, at least Honda did not transform it into a prelude SUV. I think of you, Mitsubishi Eclipse.
The new Prelude will be on sale in the United States later this year and will arrive in Europe in 2026.