The all-new Honda Prelude will arrive in the United States later this year and will be offered in a single trim level for the 2026 model year. Priced at USD42,000 (about RM174k), the Prelude is cheaper than the Civic Type R that goes for USD45,895 (RM190k), which is the opposite of the situation in Japan.
Reborn as a hybrid, the Prelude features Honda’s Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain based around a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine running on the Atkinson cycle. Rated at 141 hp at 6,000 rpm and 182 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm, the engine works with an electric motor to act as a generator for a battery.
Power from the battery is sent to a traction motor at the front with 181 and 315 Nm. The engine can also be clutched in to directly drive the wheels at higher speeds when it is more efficient to do so, with the total system output is listed at 200 hp. The combined EPA fuel economy rating is 44 mpg or 6.4 litres per 100 km.
It’s important to note that this exact powertrain is also found in the Civic Hybrid sedan sold in the US, which has a significantly lower starting price of USD29,295 (RM121k). Of course, the Prelude justifies its asking price with its sportier design and Civic Type R components like front Brembo brakes, dual-axis strut front suspension and adaptive dampers.
Customers in the US can order the Prelude in one of five exterior colours, including Meteorite Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Rallye Red and Boost Blue Pearl. The fifth option, Winter Frost Pearl, can be optioned with a black roof which bumps the price by a further USD500 (RM2k). As for the interior, it can be had with a two-tone blue and white or black, both with blue contrast stitching to match the blue exterior accents on the outside.
Standard equipment for the Prelude include 19-inch alloy wheels in Berlina Black, front leather sport seats, four drive modes (Comfort, GT, Sport, Individual), a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, alloy shift paddles, sport pedals, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a nine-inch infotainment touchscreen, a wireless charging pad, an eight-speaker Bose sound system and Honda Sensing suite.
Further options, aside from the black roof, are 19-inch machine-finished Berlina Black wheels, a black decklid spoiler, front underbody spoilers as well as black emblems and side mirror covers.
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