Its return officially announced in 2023, the same year in which concept made its debut at the Tokyo Mobility Show, Honda has finally unwrapped the production Prelude as a first-time self-charging hybrid aimed at the Toyota GR86 and Nissan Z.
The first use of the Prelude name since 2002, the newcomer uses components from the Civic Type R, but as mentioned, doesn’t offer a conventional combustion engine option, or a manual gearbox as all of the past five generations did.
Already on-sale in Japan, the Prelude has been toned down little from the concept.
Introducing a design language called Unlimited Glide, the Prelude appears outwardly similar to the McLaren MP-4/12C from some angles, as well as upscale brand Acura’s own Integra.
Mounted on 19-inch alloy wheels, and sharing the Type R’s platform, the Prelude has measurements of 4 531 mm in overall length, a wheelbase of 2 606 mm, height of 1 356 mm and width of 1 880 mm.
Its claimed weight still being unknown, the Prelude’s chassis has, unsurprisingly, not stayed the same as a series of dynamic alterations have taken place to suit its characteristic, as well as the hybrid hardware.
These include suspension and adaptive dampers tuned specifically to the Prelude, uprated Brembo brakes consisting of a monobloc four-piston aluminium caliper design at the front, recalibrated steering and a unique driveshaft Honda says has been designed to “suppress torque steer and enhance steering stability”.
Along with the chassis being more rigid than that of the Type R, the Prelude also sports a unique dual axis strut front suspension, and what Honda calls Agile Handling Assist it says, “improves handling and driver confidence through integrated control of the powertrain and braking system in accordance with the driver’s steering operation”.
Inside, the Civic and Integra lineage continues, but with sportier seats finished in black or white imitation leather with blue stitching, a different steering with piano key black inserts, and a restyled dashboard as well as air vents.
Retained, though, is the 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, the nine-inch infotainment system and the centre console with push-button for the transmissions.
Notable spec items is an eight-speaker Bose sound system, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting and Honda’s latest Sensing array of safety and driver assistance systems.
Up front, the most controversial aspect of the Prelude prevails in the mentioned hybrid powertrain which combines a normally aspirated 2.0-litre engine producing 105 kW, with an electric motor and battery pack outputting 132 kW.
The result is a combined output of 147 kW, the same as the turbocharged Civic Si sold in Norh America, and 88 kW less than the Civic Type R.
Sending the amount of twist to the front axle is a unique CVT called S+ Shift which simulates gear changes of a conventional automatic transmission, while adjusting the sound depending on the selected mode via Honda’s Active Sound Control system.
In total, four driving modes are offered; Comfort, Sport, GT and Individual.
Exclusively made in Japan, pricing for the Prelude in its home market kicks-off at ¥6 179 800, which amounts to R without taxes and when directly converted.
For the time being though, plans on the bringing the Prelude back to South Africa is known.
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