Honda is paying homage to one of its most iconic nameplates introduced more than 45 years ago.
Honda announced Monday that a new hybrid-electric Prelude sports coupe will be introduced in the U.S. market in late 2025. Car and Driver, an automobile magazine, predicts the vehicle will debut for the 2026 model year.
The first Honda Prelude was introduced in 1978, loosely based on the Honda Accord with the intent of being more sporty. The most recent, fifth-generation Honda Prelude was produced from 1997-2001, according to automobile magazine MotorTrend.
The hybrid-electric Honda Prelude Concept made its debut at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show and first appearance in North America during the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show, according to a Honda news release.
Although not many details have been released about the new Prelude, but here’s what we know so far.
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The new Prelude will mark the debut of Honda S+ Shift, an enhancement made to Honda’s Linear Shift Control. S+ Shift will synchronize vehicle speed and engine sound and control engine RPM during acceleration and deceleration to direct drive response and sharp gear shifting, according to a Honda news release.
What does this mean? Essentially, drivers should expect to hear the rise and fall as the vehicle revs.
Although Honda’s e:HEV (high-efficiency two-motor hybrid systems) vehicles don’t have mechanical transmission systems, when Honda S+ Shift is activated, the driver will be able to shift gears with a paddle shifter, according to a Honda news release. This will give the illusion that the vehicle features a transmission system.
Though Honda has not officially announced how much the new hybrid will cost, Car and Driver estimates the sports car’s ticket price to be around $31,000-$38,000.
According to a news release, Honda aims to achieve carbon neutrality for all of its products by 2050, with the goal of manufacturing only battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles by 2040.
This year, more than 25% of Honda’s sales are presented by electric vehicles and more than 50% of Accord and CR-V sales are hybrid-electric trims, according to the a news release.
Honda introduced its first hybrid-electric model, the Honda Insight, in December 1999, which was also America’s first hybrid car. Last year, Honda began selling the Honda Prologue, the brand’s first all-electric SUV. Per a news release, next year, Honda will begin production of the first electric vehicle-based on the new Honda-developed EV platform at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.
