HONDA whet the urge for food of Prelude followers at Japan Mobility Present (Tokyo Motor Present) final yr, teasing the concept of a return for the ‘poor man’s NSX’, displaying an idea automotive that garnered loads of consideration.
The Japanese producer has now confirmed manufacturing of the brand new Prelude for European markets, alongside one other public look at Goodwood Pageant of Pace, however remained tight-lipped on particulars.
Twenty-plus years after manufacturing ceased, the Prelude appears set to tackle sporty coupes just like the GR86, MX-5 and even the Ford Mustang, however with out figuring out how a lot Honda plans on charging prospects it could push right into a extra premium bracket.
The enduring mannequin burst onto the scene within the late 70’s, gaining a powerful following for its spectacular power-to-weight ratio, nimble dealing with and sports activities automotive styling – made persistently higher with every mannequin technology.
At its peak, which was undoubtedly the 90s with the fourth-gen mannequin, the Prelude had a cult following. It was a bathe, a goer, and didn’t break the financial institution. Younger adults of the early 2000s jumped at used examples of the reasonably priced daily-driver-come-sports-car, particularly after it featured in 2 Quick 2 Livid, however by that time manufacturing had ceased.
Particulars of the brand new mannequin are scant, but it surely’s unlikely to supply the high-RPM VTEC thrills or boy-racer appeal of its predecessors, with Honda confirming a hybrid powertrain that may most likely use a CVT – if the model’s present hybrid powertrains are something to go by.
Whether or not it should characteristic the identical hybrid setup because the Civic, which makes use of a CVT and maxes out at round 150kW, is unknown. Nonetheless, Honda did affirm that the brand new Prelude will carry the “pleasure of driving” to European prospects, hinting at a continuation of the legacy mannequin’s sporting DNA.
“Honda has at all times been dedicated to creating sporty automobiles,” Honda president Toshihiro Mibe stated.
“And the phrase ‘prelude’ means an “introductory or previous efficiency.” This mannequin will turn into the prelude for our future fashions, which can inherit the ‘pleasure of driving’ into the full-fledged electrified future and embody Honda’s unalterable sports activities mindset.”
No launch date was given for Europe, nor was pricing shared, however affirmation of the brand new Prelude is a optimistic signal of Honda’s return to its roots as a producer of vehicles that steadiness financial system and efficiency.
Australia didn’t obtain the gorgeous Integra Kind S when it was reborn because it was a US-only mannequin that didn’t make its option to Europe both. The Prelude appears much more prone to wind up on Australian roads, however at this stage we will solely hope.
