This is the 2026 Honda Prelude
The Prelude is going on sale later this fall, and Honda just unloaded all the details. Sporting some Civic Type R components and a hybrid powertrain, Honda said it tuned the Prelude to deliver a grand touring experience and a fun-to-drive feel.
The car uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a two-motor hybrid system that produces 200 combined horsepower. It features Honda S+ simulated shifts, Brembo four-piston front brake calipers, dual-axis strut front suspension, and adaptive dampers, with all but the shifting system coming from the Civic Type R.
Honda Agile Handling Assist comes standard, which helps tailor powertrain and braking performance to the driver’s behavior, making the Prelude the first car with the technology. It also features Comfort, GT, Sport, and Individual drive modes and comes standard with high-performance summer tires. Available in a single trim level, the Prelude rides on 19-inch wheels, and Honda will offer a range of accessories through its parts catalog, including unique wheels, spoilers, and upgraded badges.
Inside, the 2+2 cabin features asymmetrical seat bolstering, with a more aggressive driver’s seat. The folding rear seats afford a surprising 32 inches of rear legroom, and Honda offers two color schemes, including blue and white or black. It also comes with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Google built-in.
One thing Honda didn’t disclose was the price, but it’s expected to land somewhere in the mid-$30,000 range to start. We’ll learn more in the coming weeks as the official release date nears.
[Images: Honda]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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A far cry from the affordable Celica - when it 1st came out, driven by many young pretty girls back then. Today, mom drives them around while they look at their phones.
What market are they targeting? It has a hybrid set-up with sporty design… It won’t be a tuner because of the hybrid system. The price point is higher than most young people can afford (they will stick to the civic). I could see older 20s to 30s, they are starting families though. The Prelude is a niche product and will be low volume seller.