Honda confirms the Prelude is coming back into production as the Japanese auto giant prepares to expand its presence in the hybrid market.
Honda confirms the return of the Prelude after originally teasing it as a concept.
When Honda revealed the Prelude concept, it was supposed to provide a glimpse into how hybrid power could help breathe new life into an iconic nameplate which was last seen in the 1990s when the model reached the height of its popularity along with other Japanese two-door coupes. However, the market shifted and the Prelude was quietly axed in the early 2000s.
Times are now changing and Honda has confirmed that the Prelude is returning with the U.S. market as the Japanese automaker prepares to expand its presence in the hybrid vehicle market with the stylish coupe allowing Honda to expand to other hybrid vehicle markets.
Prelude is a sign of things to come
The Prelude is Honda’s latest attempt to exapnd its presence in the hybrid vehicle market.
The appearance of the Prelude comes as Honda is expanding its presence in the automotive market. Like other automakers in recent years, the company has been forced to rethink its plans for electrification as changing market conditions are causing demand for EVs to slow down. In the case of Honda, the company is expanding its presence in hybrids with models like the Civic Hybrid attempting to bring the technology to compact vehicle buyers.
In the case of the Prelude, the two-door will add a stylish package to the hybrid technology and give buyers a stylish alternative to other hybrids which often sacrifice style and design to maximize fuel economy. The Prelude would also be another attempt by Honda to maximize its nostalgia appeal with the Integra seeing strong sales after it was revived late last year.
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New technology will take center stage
A new “S+ Shift system is supposed to make the driving experience smoother and sportier.
Honda’s press release didn’t reveal images of the production version but the lone exception was an image of an “S+ button” located in the interior. Honda says the button is part of a new feature called “S+Shift” which allows one of the two electric motors to provide power to the drive wheels most of the time. Honda says this trait also aims to eliminate the rubber band feel that can be found on some CVT transmissions which makes the Prelude smoother to drive than before.
There’s still alot that remains unknown about the Prelude with the company not releasing pricing or manufacturing materials in today’s release. However, look for pricing to be firmly entrenched in the value side of the hybrid market with a base model potentially starting in the $30,000 range.
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