Honda Prelude Returns as a Hybrid Electric Coupe Concept
Honda last year announced plans to release a pair of sports models equipped with batteries. But unexpectedly, the new prelude concept, which debuted this week, is equipped with a hybrid powerplant.
Honda on Wednesday confirmed that it is developing a prelude concept for production at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show. Earlier this year, Honda also made an attempt to update the Prelude trademark.
Released in Japan in 1978, the Prelude was a sporty front-wheel drive coupe in which a sleek body was traditionally combined with reliable mechanical parts typical of more popular models. Production ceased after the release of the 2002 model, which completed an impressive run over 5 generations.
Despite the fact that this is a concept, the prelude presented in Tokyo seems to be ready for production. However, although it was expected that it would be a production electric car, Honda representative in the USA Andrew Quillen confirmed that there would be at least a gas-electric transmission on board.
It has been suggested that the Honda BEV sports car could have some common ground with other Honda electric vehicles. Perhaps these fundamentals are not the Ultium platform and a set of battery technologies borrowed from General Motors for the Prologue 2024 and Acura ZDX 2024 crossovers, due to recent developments between Honda and GM.
Honda also worked on a line of affordable electric vehicles with GM as part of an expanded collaboration between the two automakers, but its plans have since been thwarted. The first models of this jointly developed platform were planned for 2027.
Instead, Honda is promoting its own EV platform for medium and large models, the first of which is planned for 2025 and is likely to be a crossover. The company is also working with Sony on a new line of Afeela brand small electric vehicles.
Honda plans to make at least 30 electric vehicles available worldwide by 2030. 1 of them is the 2nd sports model announced last year, which is considered the new NSX supercar.
At the moment, the future seems bright for this hybrid Prelude concept — but two promised batteries - for honda electric Sports car, Honda Sports electric sports car, Honda Sports electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, honda electric sports car, honda electric sports car, honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, honda electric sports car, honda electric sports car, honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car, Honda electric sports car
Update: Since then, Honda has offered the Prelude concept a hybrid powerplant, not a battery-electric powerplant.In the first version of this story, it was reported that the car will be equipped with an EV transmission.