Honda Confirms New Prelude for U.S. Market in 2025

After teasing us back in July that a new, sixth-generation Prelude was on the horizon for the U.K. in 2025, Honda has finally confirmed that the nameplate will return to the U.S. as well late next year.

The hybrid-electric coupe concept made its world debut back in 2023 at the Japan Mobility Show and was first shown in North America at the Los Angeles Auto Show the same year. Its first public appearance in the wild came last summer in England at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and October spy shots of a pre-production Prelude out testing in Germany confirmed that the car had not deviated from what we had seen before. 

Honda has remained tight-lipped about what, precisely, will move the new Prelude, though today’s press release confirms it will feature “Honda’s award-winning two-motor hybrid powertrain, dubbed e:HEV, which suggests it could be a variant of the Civic Hybrid’s powerplant, which pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric generator motor and electric propulsion motor. In the Civic, the system is good for 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque.

Regardless of the specifics, the new Prelude will mark the debut of Honda S+ Shift, a new drive mode designed to “enhance the joy of driving.” Given the Prelude’s tradition of athleticism in past generations—including advanced handling features like four-wheel steering and Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS)—this could be good news for enthusiasts. Honda says S+ Shift “precisely controls engine RPM during acceleration and deceleration to realize direct drive response and sharp gear shifting.” The company further states that within the system, the car’s engine sound synchronizes with what it calls the Active Sound System (ASC), which essentially calls on the car’s speakers to amplify the engine noise. “In this way the Honda S+ Shift will stimulate all of the driver’s senses and provide exhilarating driving at the will of the driver, further ‘synchronizing’ the driver and the vehicle.”

Although the e:HEV powertrain lacks a mechanical transmission mechanism, activating S+ Shift allows drivers to shift gears with steering wheel–mounted paddle shifters, “so that the driver can enjoy driving feel as if the vehicle features a transmission system.” We will update you when additional technical details are available.

As yet, Honda has not released any specifics on when the new Prelude will hit showrooms, nor has it hinted at pricing.