Honda Prelude E̶V̶ hybrid previewed, and now imagined as a Prelude Type R!

November 6: Honda's new Prelude is actually a hybrid

If, like me, you read Honda's press release describing its Prelude coupe concept as an example of its "full-fledged electrified future" and took "full-fledged electric" to mean full-fledged electric, this news might surprise – and perhaps even delight.

Rather than being a "full-fledged" electric car, the Prelude concept is a petrol-electric hybrid.

You won't find any evidence of that in Honda's initial statement [↗] – but when former Alfa Romeo North America brand manager Ross Litman queried the Prelude's front-wheel-drive proportions in a post to The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter [↗], Honda America's public relations manager Andrew Quillin replied: "To clarify … Prelude Concept is hybrid-electric, not full BEV". He also conceded that the press release, issued by Honda's Japanese headquarters, failed to specify these details.

Cool.

10

It appears likely then that the Prelude Coupe concept is actually based on the new Civic's platform, given it too is available as a hybrid.

Still, this might be good news for fans, who could look to the petrol part of the hybrid powertrain as a potential tuning option – not to mention the authentic exhaust note opportunities. Perhaps it was originally imagined as a 'proper' two-door Acura Integra?

New Prelude previewed in production and Type R forms

Without missing a beat, our mate Theottle has rendered production versions of the new Prelude, along with a hot Type R flagship.

Check out his renders and process video below. What do you think of the look?

10

New Honda Prelude previewed | Theottle [↗]

10

New Honda Prelude previewed | Theottle [↗]

10

New Honda Prelude previewed | Theottle [↗]

10

New Honda Prelude previewed | Theottle [↗]

October 25: Honda Prelude EV hybrid previewed

The Honda Prelude badge is coming back, with the iconic coupe set to return as a sleek electric coupe previewed in Japan today.

Speaking at the Japan Mobility Show, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the Prelude coupe concept hints at the company's trajectory towards electrifying its sports models.

The Prelude Concept is portrayed as a herald for future models that will encapsulate the "joy of driving" in an electrified form, embodying Honda's history as a sporting brand.

10

Unveiled amidst a narrative of Honda's ongoing and future mobility products, the Prelude Concept stole the spotlight as a specialty sports model.

The concept's reveal came as a part of a broader program where Honda discussed its electrification plans, aware of anticipations around the introduction of sportier models in its electric line-up.

10

Mibe said the use of the Prelude badge is no simple exploiting of a famous name, but rather an actual prelude to a host of sporting EVs to be revealed in the coming months and years.

"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," Mibe said.

10

"Please keep your expectation high for this model.”

The question is... will they bother to bring it to Australia, or will this be yet another electric Honda that's off limits for us?