Honda has announced the return of the famed Prelude nameplate as an all-new hybrid-electric sports coupe, scheduled to be on sale in the U.S. in late 2025. It will feature Honda’s S+ Shift drive mode, and offer more driver engagement than before through the technological marvel that is Linear Shift Control, all of which resonates with the model’s heritage.
The hybrid family is growing!
“The return of the Honda Prelude as a hybrid-electric sports model substantiates our continued commitment to provide exhilarating products,” said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president for Honda Auto Sales. She continued, “It will join the Civic and Accord as a hybrid member in our lineup of Honda passenger cars, revitalizing a heritage that started in the ’70s.”
The Prelude Concept made its North American debut at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show, 45 years after first entering production back in 1978. In those five generations, the Prelude pioneered some of the most cutting-edge technologies such as four-wheel steering (4WS) and the Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS), earning quite a warm spot among car lovers.
Advancing Honda’s electrification strategy
The Prelude’s hybrid-electric powertrain continued the Dream of Carbon Neutrality set by Honda, going forward to achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2050. By 2040, 100 percent of its sales of vehicles shall consist of battery-backed electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles. Honda has celebrated 25 years of hybrid sales in America, starting with the launch of first-in-class Insight in 1999. Over the past 14 years, electrified vehicles have contributed to over 25% of total U.S. sales and more than 50% of sales for the Accord and CR-V in hybrid trims.
Honda recorded all-time electrified vehicle sales in 2024, leading to the introduction of the fully electric Honda Prologue SUV- and the commencement of its Honda 0 Series Thursday, with seven global models coming on stream by 2030, including a flagship Saloon set for production in 2026. The Prelude’s hybrid reintroduction exemplifies Honda’s blend of innovation, sustainability, and performance, paving the way for a carbon-neutral future.
