Currently reading: Full reveal: Honda Prelude sports coupe to land this year

Revived sports coupé will be launched in 2026 with new S+ Shift system and hybrid powertrain

The new Honda Prelude hybrid sports coupé has now been shown in full, following the unveiling of its interior.

It draws heavily on the Civic hatchback on which it's based, borrowing that car's 9.0in infotainment touchscreen, digital instrument display and climate control switchgear.

However, several key changes reflect its sportier positioning. The steering wheel has a rally-style line stitched into the straightahead and there are bucket seats up front – more thickly bolstered for the driver than the passenger.

There's also an S+ button on the centre console that activates the car's simulated gearbox – a key part of Honda's effort to ensure the Prelude offers driving thrills using the same 181bhp 2.0-litre e:HEV hybrid system as the Civic.

The new system is claimed to "simulate the sound and feel of quick automatic gearchanges".

Honda Europe's senior vice-president, Hans De Jaeger, said this will "not only deliver exceptional efficiency but also the fun-to-drive performance for which this model is known".

The e:HEV system primarily uses an electric motor to propel the wheels, and while the petrol engine can drive the wheels directly at higher speeds, it serves largely as a generator to charge the battery. This removes the need for traditional gearing.

Honda Prelude S+ shift button

The new S+ Shift system builds on the Linear Shift Control system applied to Honda's current e:HEV hybrid models.

The firm said it will have the ability to maintain the "optimal engine RPM for the particular driving conditions" and fully utilise power generated by the engine as driving force, rather than to charge the motor. That in turn will improve the response time of the motor.

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With the S+ Shift activated, drivers can then shift gears using paddles, which will offer a "sharp upshift feeling, providing feedback that resonates with all of the driver's senses". Quick gearshifts will be enabled by the coordination between the engine and electric motor.

The system will also work with Honda's Active Sound Control system to "enhance engine sound quality" by playing engine sound in sync with the engine's RPM through the speakers, which Honda claimed will "stimulate all of the driver's senses". 

The S+ Shift name references the "sports spirit" of Honda models including the S600, S2000 and Type S.

Honda Prelude side

The system is likely to serve in a similar fashion to the one on the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

Last year, Prelude project leader Tomoyuki Yamagami told Autocar: "When you're in charge of developing the Prelude, you understand everyone has a lot of expectations of a coupé."

Honda has previously offered a traditional manual gearbox on the Civic and Insight hybrids, although it was connected to an earlier, more conventional hybrid powertrain.

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Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
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As part of Autocar’s news desk, Charlie plays a key role in the title’s coverage of new car launches and industry events. He’s also a regular contributor to its social media channels, providing videos for Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association.

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James Attwood

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James is Autocar’s associate editor, and has more than 20 years of experience of working in automotive and motorsport journalism. He has been in his current role since September 2024, and helps lead Autocar's features and new sections, while regularly interviewing some of the biggest names in the industry. Oh, and he once helped make Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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xxxx 2 April 2025

180hp is just not going to cut it, great looking car spoilt by woeful engine.

Still as the Honda spokesman says, exceptional economy.  Yawn!

artill 18 December 2024

I am sure with a manual this could be great fun. But if they cant or wont, just make it an EV. I have no interest in faking this, or simulating that.

Underneath the skin this is a Civic based car, and i am sure all current Civic based powertrains will fit. Than means there is no reason not to offer a Tyre R, and the 1.5 Turbo manual we no longer get

AlfonsoStreet 17 October 2024

"Instead of having the petrol engine driving the wheels while being assisted by a small electric motor, this uses only the motor for propulsion, with the engine acting as a generator to charge the battery"

I think the e:HEV uses a 'Parallel Axis Arrangement' and thus has the ability for a enginge drive mode (i.e. direct drive by the engine) across 2 gears (higher and lower) - so I assume there would be a way of introducing some form of manuel which is not fully sythnthetic. Honda being Honda offer a good explanation (with diagrams) on their own website...