Last month, Honda rolled out the red carpet for the the hybrid Prelude Concept, heralding the comeback of a historic name in the motoring world. Now, this car has been given the green light as a global model, set to cater to both right- and left-hand drive markets. However, it might not quite rev up to be the full-throttle sports car many enthusiasts were anticipating
Despite being labeled a concept by Honda, the car presented at the Japan Mobility Show (JMS) looked quite production-ready. And if we know anything about Honda, they have a knack for unveiling thinly-disguised production cars as concepts. Take the last two Civics, for example. The 10th-gen Civic Concept was more or less the Civic coupe of that generation with a more aggressive stance and altered bumpers, while the 11th-gen Civic Prototype was virtually the same sedan that made it to production.
Read More: The Honda Prelude Is Coming Back As A Hybrid Sports Coupe
Honda President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe confirmed this at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. He mentioned that the car is already in development, and that Honda is looking to bring it to market “sometime in the mid-2020s.” Considering we’re in 2023, that means this car could see the light of day within 2 or 3 years if we’re being optimistic.
But for those hoping for a Mazda Miata/Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ competitor, you might find yourself a bit disappointed. Speaking to CarsGuide about the Prelude’s hybrid powertrain, Tomoyuki Yamagami, Honda’s Large Project Chief Engineer, was coy about the details, but he did reveal that it “isn’t going to be the sportiest, zippiest car that’s going to be tossed into the circuits.” He did confirm a four-seat layout, but given the size of the car and its low roofline, it’s likely that those back seats won’t be useful for much more than storage and a couple of kids.
See Also: Are You Disappointed Honda Brought Back The Prelude Instead Of The S2000?
Given that, it’s somewhat unclear what the market segment of this car will be. On one hand it’s a small, sporty-looking coupe, which would naturally pit it against the likes of the Miata, GR86, and BRZ, but then it’s supposedly not meant to be sporty. On the other hand, it could be going down the personal luxury coupe route, but 2-door, luxurious, comfortable cruisers are already a dying breed, and the few that do remain are all on the larger side. Perhaps this new Prelude will be able to carve out its own niche, one of a small, fuel-efficient car that’s comfortable and practical enough for everyday use yet powerful enough to have fun in, almost like a compact GT.
If Honda can pull it off for the right price, they might have a hit on their hands. If not, we could see the second coming of the CR-Z, another 2-door, quasi-sporting hybrid that aimed to build upon the legacy of its predecessor.
