The Honda Prelude returns as a sporty hybrid with a new drive mode

Out to beryllium that the sports coupe is acold from dead, Honda announced the instrumentality of the Prelude with an all-new hybrid-electric powertrain.

It’s been implicit 2 decades since Honda past released a caller Prelude, but the institution began laying the groundwork for its instrumentality with the merchandise of a conception version past year. Now, a hybrid Prelude is scheduled to get successful the US successful 2025.

It volition besides people the debut of Honda S+ Shift, a caller thrust mode that the institution says “further advances Linear Shift Control to present maximum levels of operator engagement.”

The institution is besides describing the Prelude arsenic having “two motors,” but that doesn’t marque it dual-motor oregon AWD. Honda’s hybrid powertrain has had 2 motors for respective generations, some of which beryllium adjacent to the interior combustion engine.

“One electrical centrifugal acts arsenic a generator, creating energy for the artillery and propulsion,” Honda spokesperson Chris Naughton said, and the different is simply a traction centrifugal that propels the conveyance — and captures regen erstwhile slowing.

There’s not overmuch other to enactment astir the Prelude’s return; Honda is astir apt waiting until person to the accumulation to merchandise cardinal specs.

I’m definite determination volition beryllium immoderate bemoaning the information that Honda had an accidental to merchandise a afloat electrical Prelude that would person been rad arsenic hell. To beryllium sure, the institution says it’s inactive committed to achieving c neutrality for each of its “products and firm activity” by 2050 — and that includes 100 percent of EV income by 2040.

But Honda besides has a beauteous bully way grounds for hybrid vehicles, which it considers an important span to afloat EVs. And clearly, the US is heading toward a acheronian play for EV income with the incoming Trump medication expected to roll backmost a batch of the incentives and regulations aimed astatine increasing EV adoption.

Hybrid-electric trims presently marque up much than 50 percent of Accord and CR-V sales, and the recently introduced Civic hybrid is expected to ultimately represent astir 40 percent of Civic sales. Cumulative income of Honda electrified vehicles apical 1 million.

Meanwhile, the afloat electrical Honda Prologue (based connected GM’s Chevy Equinox EV) is already enjoying brisk sales since its US motorboat earlier this year. And the institution plans to unveil a production-ready Honda Zero model astatine CES adjacent year.