Honda revives Prelude name after 22 years | GRR
While pre-show talk anticipated the launch of a new NSX, Honda has taken us all by surprise by revealing (what looks to be) a close-to-production-ready new Prelude. It’s the sixth generation of a sports car previously famed for its high-revving VTEC engines and technology, including digital dashboards and four-wheel steer.
The one official picture released by Honda so far (the car is currently on the company’s stand at the Japan Mobility Show) shows a pretty two-door coupe with curves and creases in all the right places and a grille that harks back to the old fourth-gen Prelude of the 1990s. Its 20-inch alloy wheels hide Brembo brakes, which could be a promising clue to the performance. The show car’s heavily tinted windows suggest the interior has yet to be finalised.
Sadly, that’s all we know about the new Prelude, although we’ll make an educated guess that it’ll be electric-powered. For now, we’ll hand over to Director and President Toshihiro Mibe to fill in the (sizable) gaps in information.
He said: “Honda has always been committed to creating sporty vehicles. And the word ‘prelude’ means an “introductory or preceding performance.” This model will become the prelude for our future models, which will inherit the ‘joy of driving’ into the full-fledged electrified future and embody Honda’s unalterable sports mindset. The Prelude concept is a speciality sports model that will offer an exhilarating experience that makes you want to keep going forever and extraordinary excitement you never felt before.
“In order to offer the “joy of driving” only Honda can realise, we are diligently progressing with development, so please keep your expectations high for this model.”
Appetites suitably whetted; we’ll have more on the new Prelude when we get it.