The Prelude hits US showrooms in late 2025

Just over a year after its surprise revival, Honda has confirmed that the new Prelude is coming to the US. The hybrid coupe will launch in late 2025 and will feature a version of the two-motor hybrid system used in the Civic and Accord. The production car should look very similar to the concept presented by Honda, and we expect it to be a 2026 model year.

Honda was initially reluctant to sell the Prelude in America, but brought the car to the LA Auto Show last year to gauge customer interest. Apparently the customers are interested. Notably, this will be the second revived Honda nameplate after the Acura Integra, which returned to North America in 2022 as a premium version of the Civic and has enjoyed sales success ever since. Nostalgia works.

Presumably the new Prelude will be largely identical to the Civic hybrid beneath it, which is good because the current Civic is excellent. However, Honda’s chief engineer said last year that the Prelude won’t be the sportiest car. So don’t think that Honda is making a Toyota GR86 competitor here. Still, it will be one of the few affordable two-door cars on the market when it goes on sale next year.

Photo by: Honda

Honda also confirmed that the Prelude will have a new feature called S+ Shift. The automaker’s two-motor hybrid cars do without a conventional transmission; instead, one of the two motors usually drives the wheels directly. The engine can drive the wheels even at highway speeds via a lock-up clutch. To ensure that this system does not provide the typical “rubber band” feel associated with other hybrid vehicles and cars with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), Honda developed a system called Linear Shift Control that simulates the feel of a traditional engine and transmission.

S+ Shift is an extension of Linear Shift Control with the aim of providing a sportier driving experience that lives up to the Prelude name. Honda hasn’t revealed any further details about how the system works, but it looks like it’s targeting the Prelude at enthusiasts.

There’s still a lot we don’t know, like where it will be built or what it will cost. But we are excited. The Civic Hybrid is one of the best cars on the market, and packing its excellent hardware into a more stylish package is a good thing.