When Honda shocked the world by confirming the return of the Prelude, fans were eager to see what the company had planned for the reborn 90’s icon, especially after a successful rebirth of another 90’s classic at Acura, the Integra. The stylish concept version promised sleek sporty styling but we didn’t get to see too much of the interior. Honda is now moving the Prelude into the prototype phase with the unveiling of several new images of the cabin.
Prelude provides a right-handed view, left-hand drive coming soon
The image Honda released is of a right-hand drive model and as expected, it looks very familiar with the cabin looking very similar to a current generation Civic. That’s to be expected with the Prelude essentially taking the place of the Civic coupe. The dashboard is a strong expression of this DNA but the seats take their vibe from the Acura Integra with the beefier bolstering signaling the Prelude’s sporty intentions.
A digital instrument cluster is also on board but no manual transmission will be offered with the Prelude getting a button-operated CVT standard. Unlike the Civic, the Prelude will get a special “S+” button that will allow the transmission to replicate the shifts of an eight-speed automatic. Honda says “S+ Shift precisely controls the engine rpm during acceleration and deceleration to realize direct drive response and sharp gear shifting.” In addition to the nifty software, drivers can also use steering wheel-mounted shift paddles to row their way through the simulated gears.
A separate video released by a Japanese YouTuber provides more detail and highlights the fact that the Prelude still comes bundled with some of the compromises expected in a coupe with the two rearward seats having headroom eaten into by the sloping rear roofline with a handy cargo cover in the rear keeping valuable items out of sight.
When can I buy one?
Honda is still keeping full details of the Prelude to itself, but the company has confirmed that while the Prelude will be a sporty offering it will not be the fastest nor the zippiest around indicating that this coupe will ultimately put fuel economy and value pricing as its core sales pillars versus offering raw performance or speed. Japanese outlets claim the car borrows some parts from the Civic Type R and also gets a wider track but we’ll have to wait until Honda chooses to formally lay out the goods before making any final judgments.
Honda will be bringing left-hand drive versions of the Prelude to other markets with the United States getting the car towards the end of the year. European buyers will have to wait an extra year before they’re allowed to get behind the wheel.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.