Honda has done it. It has finally resurrected the Prelude nameplate after two decades of silence, and this time, it glides on hybrid power. If you recall, the concept was shown at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023, followed by confirmation in early 2024 that the U.S. will be getting one. Fast forward to September 2025, the 2026 Honda Prelude Hybrid Sports Car officially goes on sale in Japan—and people are losing their minds. Honda reportedly received over 2,400 orders in a month, about eight times the target. Yep, turns out nostalgia still sells, especially when it wears a coupe body and a badge that says “Prelude.”
The all-new Prelude rides on a Civic Type R-derived chassis and a design concept called “Unlimited Glide.” That’s Honda-speak for sleek, wide, and smooth—like a glider that forgot it doesn’t have wings. It has a low, sharp front end with wing-like headlights, flush door handles, black chrome accents, and blue highlights that remind you this isn’t just any sports coupe; it’s a hybrid with manners. Under that sculpted sheet metal sits a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder mated to a two-motor hybrid system—the same e:HEV setup that powers other modern Hondas, but with new tricks.
The trickiest one is the Honda S+ Shift, which emulates an eight-speed gearbox despite having none. Pair that with Active Sound Control (translation: fake but fun engine noises) and it delivers the feel of old-school shifting, minus the gas-guzzling guilt. There’s also adaptive suspension, Brembo brakes, a variable-ratio steering system, and drive modes like Sport, GT, and Comfort—plus an Individual mode for those who want to feel like they’ve tuned something.
Inside, it’s a two-tone Blue & White lounge, complete with a flat-bottom steering wheel, alloy paddles, a Bose 8-speaker setup, and a 9-inch display with Google built in. And yes, it’s still practical—two golf bags, two surfboards, and maybe your midlife crisis all fit in the back.
The 2026 Honda Prelude Hybrid goes on sale in Japan for 6,179,800 yen [JP] (around US$41,000) and will land in the U.S. later this year. Take a few more looks at the all-new Prelude after the break.
Images: Honda [JP].
