This recently revealed Prelude concept serves as a prelude to a possible eventual production model.
Despite being often considered as the sportier alternative among the Japanese automakers, the closest thing to a coupe offered by Honda is currently its titchy two-door Honda e hatchback. Though thankfully this is likely about to change, as in a completely surprising move during the Japan Mobility Show, Honda has recently showcased a new-age Prelude concept.
And while details on it have been skint to say the least, what is nevertheless confirmed by the manufacturer is for this sleek Prelude prototype to actually be a vehicle with production intentions. Going too by how relatively sane it looks as a concept, it could therefore also be plausibly assumed for this Honda coupe to be in dealerships rather soon as well.
Now just for those who don’t know why there are some in the auto world are currently creaming in their pants at the thought of this, the Prelude nameplate essentially served as a grown-up (and upsized) alternative to its sporty and smaller-sized Integra. Five iterations of this Japanese mid-sized coupe existed from its inception in 1978 to its eventual demise in 2001, with perhaps the third-generation model being the most notable among car nerds for being the first mass-produced car with a mechanical four-wheel steering system.
Unfortunately however, it has not confirmed whether this upcoming Prelude will feature steering capabilities on both axles. What is confirmed instead though is for two propulsion systems to live under its hood, as Honda has indicated that this coupe will, contrary to initial speculations, indeed be a hybrid.
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe has also further touted during the reveal for the Prelude to be a sporty model that will ‘deliver the joy of driving’ and ‘offer exhilarating experience that makes you want to keep going forever’. Said marketing jargon sadly still does not make clear what the tech specs of its hybrid powertrain is, nor the more pertinent question of whether this coupe will be offered with a stick shift or not.
Going by the blue Brembo brakes hiding behind some mean-looking 20-inch alloy wheels though, there is hope yet for this Prelude to have some properly sporting potential. Other exterior details on this sleek Honda worth highlighting meanwhile is an almost Toyota Crown-esque front face design, and a thin yet prominent spoiler adorns its fastback rump.
It remains to be seen exactly how soon will Honda actually turn this Prelude concept into a production version. Though going by past precedent from its recent Integra revival effort, this coupe could potentially be in showrooms within the next year or two. The bigger question is then which showrooms exactly will be able to offer Prelude, or just more specifically is Malaysia going to get it or not?
