While watch reissues are released seemingly every week, the automobile industry seems to require a lot more deliberation before pulling the trigger on revivals of past favorites. We get it; cars are significantly more challenging and expensive to produce, thus requiring a larger risk. This is why when a discontinued model does get revived, it has the potential to break the internet.
A representative of a bygone era, the Honda Prelude was produced from 1978 until it ceased production in 2001. But the Japanese marque has just announced that the nameplate will be returning late next year — but as a hybrid vehicle. We have the scoop.
What Happened?
Owing to a shift from sportier coupes to the more practical ones in the ‘90s, along with a significantly more competitive market for the cars that decade (Honda alone had some half-dozen coupe models at the time), the Prelude left us, with mostly dry eyes, after five generations. However, as nostalgia for that era increases, so does enthusiasm for the cars that helped us get through it.
What We Know So Far
Previewed as a concept in 2023 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the return of the two-door Prelude will come with an evolved powertrain when it arrives later this year. No longer running on gas alone, the revival will run on a two-motor setup like the hybrid versions of the Accord and Civic models already out. This could possibly be paired with the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine as well, although Honda is pretty scarce with specs and info at the moment.
Assistant VP of Honda Auto Sales even commented that “the first three products in the Honda lineup in the 1970s were Civic, Accord, and Prelude, and soon all three will be back together again in our passenger car lineup as hybrids.”
The new powertrain also comes with the debut of the Honda “S+ Shift” features, which is essentially a new drive mode that offers “maximum levels of driver engagement.” Essentially, Honda’s hybrids don’t have an actual gearbox, so this gives you the sensation of shifting despite a direct-drive system that precludes it.
In terms of style, the new Prelude doesn’t quite look like the models of old, with its dramatic rear windshield. However, the signature moonroof is back, seeming to blend together with the front windshield. Also, the vintage-looking single-strip taillight can be seen on the back. While this is certainly a new car for a new era, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish there were more retro styling.
Spec Sheet
Model: Prelude
Model Year: 2026
Engine: Two-motor hybrid
Power: Unspecified
Pricing & Availability
No price has been specified either, but considering the hybrid versions of the 2024 Accord and Civic are roughly in the $30,000 range, you can expect the Prelude to be as well. As Honda stated, you can expect the vehicle to arrive in late 2025 for the 2026 model year.
Recap
2026 Honda Prelude Hybrid
Honda just announced it’s reviving the Prelude coupe after being discontinued in 2001. But now, the two-door vehicle will be offered as a hybrid.
