Upcoming 2026 Honda Prelude Coupe Will Get The Civic Type R's Chassis And Suspension, And Now We're Excited Again

Honda

Honda amazed america each backmost successful 2023 erstwhile it revealed nan Prelude concept, a hybrid coupe that looked truthful production-ready, I promised to eat my ain footwear if Honda didn't build it. A little much than a twelvemonth later, Honda confirmed I wouldn't person to eat my shoe, which I greatly appreciated. Still, nan mobility remained: Would nan Prelude really beryllium nosy to drive, aliases would it conscionable beryllium a two-door Civic hybrid? As it turns out, nan caller Prelude will get heavy from the Civic Type R, truthful I'm guessing it'll beryllium nan former, not nan latter. 

Granted, I haven't driven nan caller Prelude, truthful it's wholly imaginable I could beryllium incorrect astir really enjoyable it will beryllium to drive, but astatine slightest we're headed successful nan correct direction. According to Honda's latest release, nan upcoming Prelude "will characteristic nan suspension, wide beforehand and rear tracks, and Brembo beforehand brakes from nan legendary Civic Type R." Considering really overmuch nosy we had down nan instrumentality of the Civic Type R, that tin only beryllium a bully point for nan Prelude's return. 

That said, it doesn't sound for illustration nan caller Prelude will beryllium a full-on way monster, astatine slightest not correct retired of nan gate. The aforesaid merchandise refers to nan Prelude arsenic a "grand touring sports coupe," which suggests it'll astir apt grip much like nan Integra Type S than nan Civic Type R. That isn't a bad thing, either, since nan Integra is arguably nan amended regular driver. Plus, it's sewage to time off room for nan inevitable Prelude Type R, right, Honda? Right, Honda?

Honda

If you were envisioning a Prelude pinch Civic Type R–matching powerfulness figures, hole to beryllium disappointed. Honda says nan upcoming Prelude will get nan aforesaid powertrain recovered successful the Civic Hybrid, truthful while we don't cognize precisely really overmuch powerfulness it'll make, expect it to travel successful astir 200 horsepower, conscionable for illustration nan Civic. That's astir what you get from nan Civic Si, truthful it's not for illustration nan Prelude will beryllium slow. It conscionable astir apt won't beryllium anyplace adjacent arsenic speedy arsenic nan existent Civic Type R. Then again, since nan Civic Hybrid is rated astatine 49 mpg combined, nan Prelude should besides get amended state mileage than nan Civic Type R. For comparison, nan Civic Type R is only rated astatine 24 mpg combined. 

Honda besides says nan upcoming Prelude will get nan brand's caller Honda S+ displacement system," which it describes arsenic "an innovative caller thrust mode that further advances Linear Shift Control to heighten Prelude's sporty yet comfortable GT experience." That doesn't explicate overmuch astir really nan simulated shifts will work, but I do for illustration invention and a sporty yet comfortable GT experience. Sadly, it besides intends location won't beryllium a CR-Z-style manual option, but Honda initially announced nan Prelude would get its S+ displacement strategy erstwhile it confirmed nan conception was headed to production, truthful it isn't precisely caller news. 

Still, it can't wounded for nan Prelude to get its handling from nan Civic Type R, and Honda is besides now legally required to present a car that matches nan property release's declare that "the caller 6th-generation Prelude will present precocious levels of driver exhilaration and engagement, including unmatched driving dynamics and fun-to-drive consciousness — each while remaining comfortable for mundane driving." If it doesn't, we each get to sue, which I don't want to do, but it's decidedly thing I'd for illustration complete eating my ain shoe.