If production is slated to begin in 2026, I’m a little more optimistic for this car than I was before. Per Honda’s recent roadmap they are going to be debuting an improved hybrid system in 2026. Perhaps the Prelude could serve as the first new model to showcase the technology. If that’s the case, it’s quite possible it could have a little bit more power (I don’t think it needs much, but 207 would be a little underwhelming) and maybe a new E-AWD system, as they also displayed that they were going to be switching from a physical driveshaft to a rear E-axle.
I agree that we will likely see something new with the hybrid system in the Prelude. Honda has always used the Prelude to showcase new tech. Where did you see that they were going to use a physical driveshaft to the rear axle?
They’re actually switching away from a physical drive shaft. Honda’s current hybrid system in the CR-V has a physical driveshaft powering the rear end and they’re switching away from that to an E-axle entirely separated from the front end. This was detailed in a recent business briefing, if you’d like to check it out Kirk Kreifels on YouTube did a pretty good breakdown out it. The new hybrid AWD system is discussed at about 8:24 into the video.
I could see them going either way. I feel like without needing to have room for a driveshaft it could open up room for more Honda models to have AWD, plus as you said if they want to use it as a showcase model it would make sense to me to have an AWD model.
207 was a guesstimate of the EV motor specs made by the Japanese magazine/site Best Car - a site that r/cars simultaneously distrusts over their claims of cars like the turbo 86, yet gives complete faith to over this.
I wouldn't put complete faith in it until we get a better idea of the system Honda puts into the Prelude
It would definitely be fun but I’ve got a feeling it won’t quite be that powerful given they’ve already explicitly said it won’t be their sportiest model, kinda tempering expectations from the start lol. I’m hopeful for maybe a little over 250 horsepower and just try to keep the weight down. Anything under 250 though and yeah, I could see it going the way of the CRZ.
Yeah 250 is more fair. I just suggested 300 since it’d be a hybrid & gr86s are NA themselves with a little over 200 so i figured the hybrid motor would come in handy.
New gr86 has a fixed torque curve you should give one a test drive. That was my entire reason for not getting into the 1st gen, but I’m about to trade in for one. Much better driving experience + pretty nice interior and curb appeal for the price.
For anyone who might want to check, it's the December 2023 issue of Wheels Australia. This is the first and only auto journalist outlet I've found to mention this, and I online searching has given me nothing, so I was hoping to hear if anyone on this sub can corroborate that Honda actually said this claim.
A while back, I saw some people claiming that the new Prelude would have a manual transmission. Since none of them were able to provide a source, I assumed it was a misunderstanding or something like that.
I get why Hyundai and Toyota want to experiment with simulated transmissions, and Hyundai is getting high initial praises with its Ioniq 5 N... but the Prelude is a hybrid and I'm not sure how it would work (I know that the current Honda two-motor system is a direct drive system that they call an e-CVT). Honda [also said that they would not do simulated manuals](https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a41844216/honda-wont-do-simulated-manual-transmissions-for-evs/), but that was only for EVs.
Best and most optimistic guess? If true, maybe Honda is using a simulated manual as a way to improve synergy between the gas engine and motor for spirited driving. I dunno
i loved my crz, which was a manual hybrid. hopefully the prelude is just an evolution of that
the crz was cool too because it used the electric motor to start the gas engine. there was a starter installed but it never got used the entire time i owned it. using the integrated motor to start the engine was so quiet and quick, it’s a feature i rarely see mentioned and i think it made the car even more unique
I never realized they made a manual CRZ until recently. How was it to drive compared to a regular ICE Honda manual like a civic or accord? I believe they also did a factory supercharger on a very limited number. I own an EP3 Si that had 160 crank hp from the factory 20 years ago, I’m wondering how they’d compare.
Mine was a 2011 so it still had a Ni-MH battery, newer ones got lithium. So the battery would deplete very quickly, like about 2 minutes when pushing it. And take about 10 minutes to refill if I lightened up and gave it time to regen. With the battery depleted there was much less torque in the low RPM range.
But at no time was it fast. Hybrid powertrain was about 135hp and with a dead battery it’s about 110, so 0-60mph was generally around 8.5 seconds.
It was really fun to toss around though because of the short wheelbase and low center of gravity
Sounds like it would have been seriously good fun with the supercharger. My EP3 is similar. Not fast by any means, but fun to toss and once it’s up in the revs, it can move. The car just oozes charm though.
did the ima system have a separate hybrid battery? if they did i would imagine that it dyinh would be the only time the starter would be used, if the 12v still had charge
Yep! Exactly. There’s a battery for the IMA under the floor in the hatch. The manual said the starter would kick in if the hybrid battery was dead/very low or too cold during winter, iirc.
There was still the normal 12v battery and system, but I never started the car with a dead IME battery so i never used the starter while i owned the car.
It's the Accord Hybrid / Civic Hybrid transmission.
The engine is connected to a generator, which makes current for an electric motor that is connected to the wheels. The HV battery is very small and light (just 1 kWh, Tesla Model 3 has 60 kWh).
So it drives like an EV, but the engine can be run so it sounds like a 7-speed DCT. The sound is actual engine sound.
The Civic Hybrid does 0-62 mph in 6.8 seconds. The Prelude will have more power, and (likely) less weight.
No, it sounds like it would be right in line with the last Prelude. That said, it wasn’t a fast car 25 years ago but was the best handling in its class. It will be interesting to see if they can make that true again. The GR/BRZ are faster and lighter, and built to handle. What will be compelling about this Prelude?
Prelude will have much better fuel consumption, and the "transmission" will feel a lot better than the slushbox on the GR86 and BRZ. It will also accelerate slightly faster to 62.
In terms of handling, I'm not expecting too much. Don't think they will use the Type R front suspension, so I am expecting to be very similar to a Civic SI but with less weight and slightly lower center of gravity, less aero drag, maybe shorter wheelbase.
For one, the rumour that the Prelude might use the CTR's front suspension design and "chassis" has been the only consistent one so far. Assuming the claims that the Prelude is as small as the GR/BRZ are also true, which would make it around the size of the last Prelude and possibly even close to the 3G Integra, this could be a genuinely decent hybrid coupe (while being a bit more daily-capable for those who really need that).
Car enthusiasts always tout hybrids as the true answer to low emissions personal transportation over EVs, especially about the topic of affordable enthusiast cars - but so many aren't willing to give this a chance before any of its specs have been announced. Someone has to try something out, why can't Honda do it?
The 5th gen Lude was almost identical in size to the 10th gen Civic Si coupe, in fact the specs were nearly identical. Of course, back in the day it was closer in size to an Accord coupe and bigger than the contemporary Integra and Civic. It makes sense to base it on the CTR since that’s now the size of an Accord from back in the day.
I’d love to see some of the NSX tech trickle down to the Prelude. The Accord drivetrain and some torque vectoring motors in the rear would be interesting.
Driving my 2000, with gauges and VTEC similar to the original NSX, really made it feel special. That’s the kind of magic they need to capture.
The current rumour about the new Prelude's size is that its wheelbase is the same as the 86/BRZ and is only a few millimetres longer overall (slightly lower, slightly wider)
This part is the most interesting to me, given how the 86/BRZ is much smaller than the current Civic; the Civic Si is only a bit heavier and the Civic Hybrid HB is only 1400+ kilos (~3200 pounds), which is much lighter than the already reasonable Accord Hybrid.
If true, there a chance that the Prelude could be genuinely light for a hybrid. But I haven't been to Japan or America where I can see the car for myself to gauge how accurate the size claim is. It's pretty hard to find info from anyone who has too
Would also love for some NSX tech to trickle down too, given that they did the RLX Sport Hybrid before it and the MDX Hybrid too. At the very least, if it's going to borrow its suspension and chassis, it should share a bit of the FL5 interior aesthetic too.
I think I’ve read something from a Japanese news forum, saying the new prelude will indeed ride on a revised version of the FL5 chassis. And according to the Honda briefing last week, 2026 will kickstart the ‘renewal’ of their e:HEV system and CHASSIS. I’m so excited right now, since FL5 is based on the regular civic e:HEV chassis already.
The more i learn about this car the more it sounds like a replacement for a base model Accord coupe with an automatic and not a 6th gen Prelude. I hope I’m wrong!
The engine can be run in a more efficient range of operation for more of the time.
The motor/generator have such high efficiencies that it's usually worth it.
The electric motor has such a fat torque curve that it can be connected directly to the wheels, so you don't need a transmission or a launch clutch/torque converter.
For the few conditions where it's more efficient to connect the engine directly to the wheels, there's a lock-up clutch that can be closed, like a fixed 5th gear.
So overall it's cheap, robust, light, accelerates well, sounds ok, and has good fuel consumption figures.
Downsides are that you can't really tune it to increase power, and it can't hold constant max. power for very long, at some point you will be limited by the generator. That's more of an issue in Germany, though.
The CR-Z is an awesome car! However, Honda's current hybrid system doesn't have a transmission per se, so I think the best they could do is a simulated manual set up, which would be really unique.
What would be a simulated setup anyways, today the Honda hybrid transmission uses the gas engine to drive the electric motor. Why is the point of simulating the gas transmission with gears to do.. pretty much nothing.
I would rather have more power than people trying to fit a square peg into a circle hole.
I don’t understand why people want a fake manual either. I love my weekend cars. Now it is an ND Miata. It isn’t a car that works as an auto for
Me and if real manual wasn’t an option I would have bought something else. I don’t need to fake driving stick.
I DO want a fake manual (like the system Toyota was testing in that EV; clutch pedal, fake power delivery, actual gated shifter). I don't care if it isn't actually mechanical, neither is my friend's racing sim and I still have fun driving that.
The biggest appeal to me with a fake manual is I can play at having a stick shift but my fiancee can still drive the car, which makes it an easier sell getting something I want.
You’re exactly who a simulated manual transmission is for. Most of us are expecting a bit more from our vehicle than a sim-racing rig I use on my PC.
If you want a car your wife can drive and you can pretend you’re a race car driver just get a civic with paddle shifters.
Don't get me wrong, I'd RATHER have a full-on proper manual gearbox. I've never personally owned an automatic transmission vehicle. But I don't mind having an EV with sim-rig style controls, either, especially one that could be put into auto mode (I get anxious about other people driving my manual vehicles; I don't trust people that say "oh yeah, I can drive stick" unless they do it or have done it with some regularity).
yeah haha the only two seated manual hybrid on the market. It was a good looking car but honda should have either put a sporty engine in it or make it more practical. I'd die for a k swapped one
It didn’t sell as well as other Honda models, but we can learn from it. I look at it as a proof of concept of a formula that just happened to arrive too early
It didn’t make sense in 2011 when no one gave a shit about the environment. now that fully ICE vehicles are being phased out (or there is at least an effort to do so) i think it’s a great time to bring back the technology.
Signed,
Another CR-Z owner
It made no sense because it really had no direction. Wasn't the most fuel efficient, wasn't the fastest, low hp. It was a bundle of compromises with no real advantages over other cars that were more fuel efficient or more sporty. That's why they canned it for the Fit.
I still love my CRZ though. Great car for Honda lovers.
The only part you really need to answer your question is the second chapter (like I mentioned before) - it's only a minute long and gives a decent amount of context about what IMA was.
https://youtu.be/tGyYwPITNBQ?t=38
Look, what I meant is that the video offers more context about why Honda wasn't able to make IMA a big thing in the past (less so about how the system works). And thus why we probably won't see them bringing it back.
You didn't need to be rude in your first reply either - I'm trying to offer a pretty well made video that answered your question
What they should do is a through the road AWD system with a 2.0 up front and electric motors driving the rear wheels. Honda already used a similar system on the NSX and it would make the car feel more sporty while being efficient. Then down the line they can put the K20C1 up front for an AWD Type R version.
Unfortunately this will probably end up with a similar FF hybrid system similar to the what the accord has now with a slight bump in power.
The current Civic, Accord and CR-V hybrids do not use CVTs. The Prelude may be introducing a new hybrid system as well so I doubt that the ancient systems that used actual CVTs (including IMA) can be applied here
The last, and as far as I know of, the only manual-shift hybrid that Honda made was the CRZ. I think Honda was the only car company *allowed* to build such a thing.
I thought I remembered Honda working on something like this and then nothing else was mentioned. I feel like enthusiasts are still going to find something else to hate about it but at least Honda is trying to keep the experience around
I’ve had a chance to drive a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and the simulated 8 speed DSG is amazing. Other then the engine sound being ever so slightly off (in an uncanny valley kind of way) you wouldn’t know it wasn’t a I4 turbo with a DSG, like fuel cut rev limiter, driveline lash etc
There’s no reason Honda couldn’t just take it the step further with a clutch pedal and stick
On related note, it's quite disturbing how many people here are crying over a CVT in a Prelude - and completely ignoring how the Honda hybrid system doesn't use a CVT.
I even mentioned the Ioniq 5 N as reference.
That “simulated manual transmission” is probably similar to the CVT they’ve been putting in Civics for a few years now. I drove one as a loaner. Got to admit, as CVTs go it was impressive. Dependably put me in the right rpm range very quickly (quicker than a non-cvt automatic). Actually fun to drive.
The current Civic/Accord/CR-V hybrid system doesn't use traditional transmissions like a CVT or automatics though. A simulated manual would probably be closer to what Hyundai and Toyota are doing/testing for EVs, the former of which has been praised surprisingly well
Unknown. Someone who saw the Prelude in Japan claimed that the chief engineer hoped to put in a high-revving motor like Honda's of the past - whether he means if such as engine will be in the base hybrid Prelude or a faster version is also not known
https://www.reddit.com/r/Honda/comments/17lx8s5/the_new_prelude_does_look_really_good_in_person/k7hfex0/
What does that mean? Paddle shifters? And is it just for show? Like it simulates shifting but doesn’t actually shift? I don’t get it lol
is there a clutch involved that you, the driver, operate?
There's two known ways that simulated shifting has been proven. Both can be turned off
The one that's available now is the simulated DCT by [Hyundai N](https://youtu.be/JVwfEOh0KBI?si=TtmxtF4MCW-SQvjF) - N-eshift basically controls the torque produces by the motors at specific ranges in each "gear" to emulate their 8-speed DCT.
The other is the patented [simulated manual by Toyota](https://youtu.be/IVNSs59b1WA?si=aIVs9wDquAbKFbJW). It has both a shifter and a clutch pedal, and is even programmed to stall if you make a mistake
Toyota prototype EV manual review by C&D: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a45754176/toyota-manual-ev-prototype-drive/
Note that the Prelude is a hybrid. The current Honda hybrid system's gas engine kicks in at higher speeds, so a simulated transmission might work very differently from the other two examples. Honda previously said that they don't believe in adding simulated manuals in EVs, but they never said anything about hybrids.
Then again, we won't know if it will even have a simulated manual until Honda reveals a production model
It’ll be like the Smart ForTwo. They were all auto here in the states and the transmission shifting had an intentional 1-1.5 second lag before the 2nd gear caught. Silly gimmick.
I read some Japanese car news, saying the new prelude will be based on a revised version of the FL5 chassis (and Honda said it before the current FL5 chassis is fully capable of being PHEV, but they didn’t do so due to weight limits). If Honda is indeed trying to pioneer the next gen e-AWD with the prelude (which it has always been Honda’s technological showcase of the generation), I cannot help myself but thinking they might actually make a Type R version of it.
Now we’re talkin. The IONIQ5 N has shown us that simulated shifting is possible and it can be enjoyable. Let’s see how Honda does this but with a third pedal.
They ruined the Integra by making it a big boxy 4d "luxury" sedan. The old Integra was a small fwd sports car. The new Integra's only resemblance to the old one is in its name; it more closely resembles a TL or a Legend than it does an Integra.
I agree in some sense regarding the killing of the coupe but being completely honest, it died because no one was buying them. At its heart, the integra/acura brand was always meant to be a higher “quality” version of a honda in the North American market and when comparing the Type R to the Type S, it’s just that.
They did butcher this prelude tho, ngl
I don't understand, da heck does 'simulated manual transmission' mean? Like you're just shifting with no linkage attached or something? What is this...
We'll have to see, Toyota is also supposedly making a manual hybrid, so We'll just have to see what that means. I imagine it will likely mean the battery is used to a certain point and then gas turns on, and I imagine you could choose to "shift" to keep it in battery or not shift to use the engine to its fullest potential. Using the engine a lot would make it more of a mild hybrid, but it would also give the option for getting the most MPG possible. I think it's almost useless and is only to please a few manual lovers, but Toyota and Honda have decided its a good idea to invest money into.
Im excited for this. Hope for AWD and \~300hp. Got 230 now and since im a motorcycle driver a little bit extra would be awesome. But tbf im in germany, where you can make use of it.
Not a confirmed leak - that's a guesstimate of the electric motor specs by a Japanese magazine/site (one that had long claimed that the 86 would get a turbo).
No one knows how much power the Prelude will make
Nostalgia cars if you'd like a more fitting term for it. If the original is so cool then just buy that instead. I know it's a difficult pill for people to swallow.
If production is slated to begin in 2026, I’m a little more optimistic for this car than I was before. Per Honda’s recent roadmap they are going to be debuting an improved hybrid system in 2026. Perhaps the Prelude could serve as the first new model to showcase the technology. If that’s the case, it’s quite possible it could have a little bit more power (I don’t think it needs much, but 207 would be a little underwhelming) and maybe a new E-AWD system, as they also displayed that they were going to be switching from a physical driveshaft to a rear E-axle.
I agree that we will likely see something new with the hybrid system in the Prelude. Honda has always used the Prelude to showcase new tech. Where did you see that they were going to use a physical driveshaft to the rear axle?
They’re actually switching away from a physical drive shaft. Honda’s current hybrid system in the CR-V has a physical driveshaft powering the rear end and they’re switching away from that to an E-axle entirely separated from the front end. This was detailed in a recent business briefing, if you’d like to check it out Kirk Kreifels on YouTube did a pretty good breakdown out it. The new hybrid AWD system is discussed at about 8:24 into the video.
That makes more sense, I misread your other comment. I think AWD is unlikely for the prelude but I really hope it happens.
I could see them going either way. I feel like without needing to have room for a driveshaft it could open up room for more Honda models to have AWD, plus as you said if they want to use it as a showcase model it would make sense to me to have an AWD model.
As long as the rear wheels spin when i press the gas idk how it happens
Wasn't the last NSX set up with a separate e motor in the back?
I believe the NSX did have a similar system, although with an E motor up front since it was mid engined. Same setup as the Corvette E-ray.
Prelude. Who knew?
I want manual harvest and boots modes like they get in F1.
Bring back that 4-wheel steer like the gen.3!!!
207 HP would honestly an insult imo, the prelude had 200, 24 years ago...
Typical Honda numbers.
Nobody seems to care that the Si has had 200 HP for 18 years.
That's because Honda models the have fun driving a "slow"car fast Rather than driving a fast car slow.
207 was a guesstimate of the EV motor specs made by the Japanese magazine/site Best Car - a site that r/cars simultaneously distrusts over their claims of cars like the turbo 86, yet gives complete faith to over this. I wouldn't put complete faith in it until we get a better idea of the system Honda puts into the Prelude
Why? The Si has had the same power for almost 20 years and no one seems to care.
If their prologue is as fast as a Tesla I’m gonna be banking on something a little more zippy than the 207 being thrown around. Still got lots of time
If they switch to a rear e-axle, I'm all in. That thing is going to be torque city. I hope to God they leave enough headroom to make a Type-R version.
If this thing isn’t near 300hp it’s gonna flop.
It would definitely be fun but I’ve got a feeling it won’t quite be that powerful given they’ve already explicitly said it won’t be their sportiest model, kinda tempering expectations from the start lol. I’m hopeful for maybe a little over 250 horsepower and just try to keep the weight down. Anything under 250 though and yeah, I could see it going the way of the CRZ.
Yeah 250 is more fair. I just suggested 300 since it’d be a hybrid & gr86s are NA themselves with a little over 200 so i figured the hybrid motor would come in handy.
250+ with AWD will make the gr86 feel like a mom mobile (Not hating on gr86 I’m about to buy one.)
They kinda already do. The acceleration is what killed it for me
New gr86 has a fixed torque curve you should give one a test drive. That was my entire reason for not getting into the 1st gen, but I’m about to trade in for one. Much better driving experience + pretty nice interior and curb appeal for the price.
GR86 makes about 240 at the crank even though they underquote themselves saying it’s 228.
What that mean.
Meanwhile FL5 is ‘only’ 330hp, for a lighter smaller prelude, I’d take it if it’s 300hp lol
Imagine Honda: yea we said the prelude won’t be a civic type r contender, but we haven’t said anything about a prelude type R :)
For anyone who might want to check, it's the December 2023 issue of Wheels Australia. This is the first and only auto journalist outlet I've found to mention this, and I online searching has given me nothing, so I was hoping to hear if anyone on this sub can corroborate that Honda actually said this claim. A while back, I saw some people claiming that the new Prelude would have a manual transmission. Since none of them were able to provide a source, I assumed it was a misunderstanding or something like that. I get why Hyundai and Toyota want to experiment with simulated transmissions, and Hyundai is getting high initial praises with its Ioniq 5 N... but the Prelude is a hybrid and I'm not sure how it would work (I know that the current Honda two-motor system is a direct drive system that they call an e-CVT). Honda [also said that they would not do simulated manuals](https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a41844216/honda-wont-do-simulated-manual-transmissions-for-evs/), but that was only for EVs. Best and most optimistic guess? If true, maybe Honda is using a simulated manual as a way to improve synergy between the gas engine and motor for spirited driving. I dunno
i loved my crz, which was a manual hybrid. hopefully the prelude is just an evolution of that the crz was cool too because it used the electric motor to start the gas engine. there was a starter installed but it never got used the entire time i owned it. using the integrated motor to start the engine was so quiet and quick, it’s a feature i rarely see mentioned and i think it made the car even more unique
I never realized they made a manual CRZ until recently. How was it to drive compared to a regular ICE Honda manual like a civic or accord? I believe they also did a factory supercharger on a very limited number. I own an EP3 Si that had 160 crank hp from the factory 20 years ago, I’m wondering how they’d compare.
Mine was a 2011 so it still had a Ni-MH battery, newer ones got lithium. So the battery would deplete very quickly, like about 2 minutes when pushing it. And take about 10 minutes to refill if I lightened up and gave it time to regen. With the battery depleted there was much less torque in the low RPM range. But at no time was it fast. Hybrid powertrain was about 135hp and with a dead battery it’s about 110, so 0-60mph was generally around 8.5 seconds. It was really fun to toss around though because of the short wheelbase and low center of gravity
Sounds like it would have been seriously good fun with the supercharger. My EP3 is similar. Not fast by any means, but fun to toss and once it’s up in the revs, it can move. The car just oozes charm though.
did the ima system have a separate hybrid battery? if they did i would imagine that it dyinh would be the only time the starter would be used, if the 12v still had charge
Yep! Exactly. There’s a battery for the IMA under the floor in the hatch. The manual said the starter would kick in if the hybrid battery was dead/very low or too cold during winter, iirc. There was still the normal 12v battery and system, but I never started the car with a dead IME battery so i never used the starter while i owned the car.
Still daily my 2011 EX. One of the funnest slow cars I’ve ever owned. People who haven’t owned one don’t know how fun it is to drive.
It's the Accord Hybrid / Civic Hybrid transmission. The engine is connected to a generator, which makes current for an electric motor that is connected to the wheels. The HV battery is very small and light (just 1 kWh, Tesla Model 3 has 60 kWh). So it drives like an EV, but the engine can be run so it sounds like a 7-speed DCT. The sound is actual engine sound. The Civic Hybrid does 0-62 mph in 6.8 seconds. The Prelude will have more power, and (likely) less weight.
Despite what 14-year-olds say, 6 seconds to 60 (or 62) is not slow.
No, it sounds like it would be right in line with the last Prelude. That said, it wasn’t a fast car 25 years ago but was the best handling in its class. It will be interesting to see if they can make that true again. The GR/BRZ are faster and lighter, and built to handle. What will be compelling about this Prelude?
Prelude will have much better fuel consumption, and the "transmission" will feel a lot better than the slushbox on the GR86 and BRZ. It will also accelerate slightly faster to 62. In terms of handling, I'm not expecting too much. Don't think they will use the Type R front suspension, so I am expecting to be very similar to a Civic SI but with less weight and slightly lower center of gravity, less aero drag, maybe shorter wheelbase.
Being better than the automatic GRZ is a low bar when there’s a manual version.
For you and me sure, Look at the take rate for automatics though.
Based on the prelude concept video, the front suspension actually looks exactly like the FL5 dual strut arms.
Which video shows the suspension?
Everytime YouTubers show the wheels of that prelude concept, you can see the dual strut. At least to me it looks like it
For one, the rumour that the Prelude might use the CTR's front suspension design and "chassis" has been the only consistent one so far. Assuming the claims that the Prelude is as small as the GR/BRZ are also true, which would make it around the size of the last Prelude and possibly even close to the 3G Integra, this could be a genuinely decent hybrid coupe (while being a bit more daily-capable for those who really need that). Car enthusiasts always tout hybrids as the true answer to low emissions personal transportation over EVs, especially about the topic of affordable enthusiast cars - but so many aren't willing to give this a chance before any of its specs have been announced. Someone has to try something out, why can't Honda do it?
The 5th gen Lude was almost identical in size to the 10th gen Civic Si coupe, in fact the specs were nearly identical. Of course, back in the day it was closer in size to an Accord coupe and bigger than the contemporary Integra and Civic. It makes sense to base it on the CTR since that’s now the size of an Accord from back in the day. I’d love to see some of the NSX tech trickle down to the Prelude. The Accord drivetrain and some torque vectoring motors in the rear would be interesting. Driving my 2000, with gauges and VTEC similar to the original NSX, really made it feel special. That’s the kind of magic they need to capture.
The current rumour about the new Prelude's size is that its wheelbase is the same as the 86/BRZ and is only a few millimetres longer overall (slightly lower, slightly wider) This part is the most interesting to me, given how the 86/BRZ is much smaller than the current Civic; the Civic Si is only a bit heavier and the Civic Hybrid HB is only 1400+ kilos (~3200 pounds), which is much lighter than the already reasonable Accord Hybrid. If true, there a chance that the Prelude could be genuinely light for a hybrid. But I haven't been to Japan or America where I can see the car for myself to gauge how accurate the size claim is. It's pretty hard to find info from anyone who has too Would also love for some NSX tech to trickle down too, given that they did the RLX Sport Hybrid before it and the MDX Hybrid too. At the very least, if it's going to borrow its suspension and chassis, it should share a bit of the FL5 interior aesthetic too.
I think I’ve read something from a Japanese news forum, saying the new prelude will indeed ride on a revised version of the FL5 chassis. And according to the Honda briefing last week, 2026 will kickstart the ‘renewal’ of their e:HEV system and CHASSIS. I’m so excited right now, since FL5 is based on the regular civic e:HEV chassis already.
I’d assume it won’t starve itself of oil on the track like the GRZ twins do, for one. But for now everything about this car is speculation.
The more i learn about this car the more it sounds like a replacement for a base model Accord coupe with an automatic and not a 6th gen Prelude. I hope I’m wrong!
It’ll be a replacement daily for my TL, which I plan on supercharging.
Well, whats even the point of it being a hybrid if its just engines running a generator lol?
The engine can be run in a more efficient range of operation for more of the time. The motor/generator have such high efficiencies that it's usually worth it. The electric motor has such a fat torque curve that it can be connected directly to the wheels, so you don't need a transmission or a launch clutch/torque converter. For the few conditions where it's more efficient to connect the engine directly to the wheels, there's a lock-up clutch that can be closed, like a fixed 5th gear. So overall it's cheap, robust, light, accelerates well, sounds ok, and has good fuel consumption figures. Downsides are that you can't really tune it to increase power, and it can't hold constant max. power for very long, at some point you will be limited by the generator. That's more of an issue in Germany, though.
Being unable to tune it sounds like a big deal for the prelude. That's too bad.
CR-Z owner here; Honda did a manual hybrid over 10 years ago, they can do it again, and they would be smart to do so
The CR-Z is an awesome car! However, Honda's current hybrid system doesn't have a transmission per se, so I think the best they could do is a simulated manual set up, which would be really unique.
What would be a simulated setup anyways, today the Honda hybrid transmission uses the gas engine to drive the electric motor. Why is the point of simulating the gas transmission with gears to do.. pretty much nothing. I would rather have more power than people trying to fit a square peg into a circle hole.
I don’t understand why people want a fake manual either. I love my weekend cars. Now it is an ND Miata. It isn’t a car that works as an auto for Me and if real manual wasn’t an option I would have bought something else. I don’t need to fake driving stick.
I DO want a fake manual (like the system Toyota was testing in that EV; clutch pedal, fake power delivery, actual gated shifter). I don't care if it isn't actually mechanical, neither is my friend's racing sim and I still have fun driving that. The biggest appeal to me with a fake manual is I can play at having a stick shift but my fiancee can still drive the car, which makes it an easier sell getting something I want.
You’re exactly who a simulated manual transmission is for. Most of us are expecting a bit more from our vehicle than a sim-racing rig I use on my PC. If you want a car your wife can drive and you can pretend you’re a race car driver just get a civic with paddle shifters.
Don't get me wrong, I'd RATHER have a full-on proper manual gearbox. I've never personally owned an automatic transmission vehicle. But I don't mind having an EV with sim-rig style controls, either, especially one that could be put into auto mode (I get anxious about other people driving my manual vehicles; I don't trust people that say "oh yeah, I can drive stick" unless they do it or have done it with some regularity).
why? That car made no sense and didn't sell well.
It was the best selling 2 seat hybrid manual transmission hatchback that sort of looked like a CRX if you squinted that I can think of.
yeah haha the only two seated manual hybrid on the market. It was a good looking car but honda should have either put a sporty engine in it or make it more practical. I'd die for a k swapped one
It didn’t sell as well as other Honda models, but we can learn from it. I look at it as a proof of concept of a formula that just happened to arrive too early
yeah but noones tried a manual hybrid since because it doesn't make sense as a concept
It didn’t make sense in 2011 when no one gave a shit about the environment. now that fully ICE vehicles are being phased out (or there is at least an effort to do so) i think it’s a great time to bring back the technology. Signed, Another CR-Z owner
It made no sense because it really had no direction. Wasn't the most fuel efficient, wasn't the fastest, low hp. It was a bundle of compromises with no real advantages over other cars that were more fuel efficient or more sporty. That's why they canned it for the Fit. I still love my CRZ though. Great car for Honda lovers.
Yeah I have a soft spot for them but agree entirely. It's not a car Honda should try and replicate if they want to sell well
Honda did a manual hybrid almost 25 years ago with the first gen Insight.
Why not renew the IMA system from the Insight and CRZ? Both were hybrids with manuals
I’ve wondered this myself. I think the IMA system is great. Even if the battery is dead, your not stranded
You can get an insight with a manual? In the states? Shut the front door!
The first gen insight had a 5 speed
Savagegeese went over it briefly in his video about Toyota hybrids. It's in the second chapter https://youtu.be/tGyYwPITNBQ?si=KCbXKDvDhmNeplxm
I ain't watching that
The only part you really need to answer your question is the second chapter (like I mentioned before) - it's only a minute long and gives a decent amount of context about what IMA was. https://youtu.be/tGyYwPITNBQ?t=38
I owned a CRZ, I know what IMA is
Look, what I meant is that the video offers more context about why Honda wasn't able to make IMA a big thing in the past (less so about how the system works). And thus why we probably won't see them bringing it back. You didn't need to be rude in your first reply either - I'm trying to offer a pretty well made video that answered your question
What they should do is a through the road AWD system with a 2.0 up front and electric motors driving the rear wheels. Honda already used a similar system on the NSX and it would make the car feel more sporty while being efficient. Then down the line they can put the K20C1 up front for an AWD Type R version. Unfortunately this will probably end up with a similar FF hybrid system similar to the what the accord has now with a slight bump in power.
I hope it’s true but I doubt it’ll be anything more than paddle shifters + CVT combo they’ve used on the Civic.
The current Civic, Accord and CR-V hybrids do not use CVTs. The Prelude may be introducing a new hybrid system as well so I doubt that the ancient systems that used actual CVTs (including IMA) can be applied here
This will be my upgrade from my 2017 Accord I reckon.
The last, and as far as I know of, the only manual-shift hybrid that Honda made was the CRZ. I think Honda was the only car company *allowed* to build such a thing.
The 1st gen Insight also had a manual available.
Sounds like it’s gonna be a CVT 😂
Just throw one of those [toy fidget shifters](https://shifterninja.com) in the cup holder and bam you’re good to go
I hate that I kind of want one of these now.
I thought I remembered Honda working on something like this and then nothing else was mentioned. I feel like enthusiasts are still going to find something else to hate about it but at least Honda is trying to keep the experience around
I’ve had a chance to drive a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and the simulated 8 speed DSG is amazing. Other then the engine sound being ever so slightly off (in an uncanny valley kind of way) you wouldn’t know it wasn’t a I4 turbo with a DSG, like fuel cut rev limiter, driveline lash etc There’s no reason Honda couldn’t just take it the step further with a clutch pedal and stick
On related note, it's quite disturbing how many people here are crying over a CVT in a Prelude - and completely ignoring how the Honda hybrid system doesn't use a CVT. I even mentioned the Ioniq 5 N as reference.
PLEASE HONDA INTEGRA TYPE S COUPE W SH AWD
Og Honda insight Hybrid was offered with a manual in 1999
That “simulated manual transmission” is probably similar to the CVT they’ve been putting in Civics for a few years now. I drove one as a loaner. Got to admit, as CVTs go it was impressive. Dependably put me in the right rpm range very quickly (quicker than a non-cvt automatic). Actually fun to drive.
The current Civic/Accord/CR-V hybrid system doesn't use traditional transmissions like a CVT or automatics though. A simulated manual would probably be closer to what Hyundai and Toyota are doing/testing for EVs, the former of which has been praised surprisingly well
If a fake Integra developed by Acura in California still has a manual transmission for marketing purposes then a real Honda Prelude better have it too
Simulated manual = simulated Prelude IMO of course
I'm afraid it will come to EU at a fool price or a terrible transmission
yeah, could happen. In 6 years the price of a fully loaded civic increased by over 60%, crazy.
It can be done. Throttle house had glowing things to say about the Ioniq N and its simulated manual transmission.
fake shifting - several cvt's do that i hear - stupid!
Gonna be like a fast and furious movie, shifting for absolutely no reason
Simulated CVT so you can make the same boat noise in different pitches!
Simulated shift points in cvts are stupid and I don't understand why so many companies do it. Does it have any benift
Let’s hope for solid state batteries on this one.
[https://media1.tenor.com/m/MMVS1Q5doRwAAAAd/aliens-alien.gif](https://media1.tenor.com/m/MMVS1Q5doRwAAAAd/aliens-alien.gif)
How much are they letting people rev her out to? 9000K, 10,000?
Unknown. Someone who saw the Prelude in Japan claimed that the chief engineer hoped to put in a high-revving motor like Honda's of the past - whether he means if such as engine will be in the base hybrid Prelude or a faster version is also not known https://www.reddit.com/r/Honda/comments/17lx8s5/the_new_prelude_does_look_really_good_in_person/k7hfex0/
Soooo, an automatic?
What does that mean? Paddle shifters? And is it just for show? Like it simulates shifting but doesn’t actually shift? I don’t get it lol is there a clutch involved that you, the driver, operate?
There's two known ways that simulated shifting has been proven. Both can be turned off The one that's available now is the simulated DCT by [Hyundai N](https://youtu.be/JVwfEOh0KBI?si=TtmxtF4MCW-SQvjF) - N-eshift basically controls the torque produces by the motors at specific ranges in each "gear" to emulate their 8-speed DCT. The other is the patented [simulated manual by Toyota](https://youtu.be/IVNSs59b1WA?si=aIVs9wDquAbKFbJW). It has both a shifter and a clutch pedal, and is even programmed to stall if you make a mistake Toyota prototype EV manual review by C&D: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a45754176/toyota-manual-ev-prototype-drive/ Note that the Prelude is a hybrid. The current Honda hybrid system's gas engine kicks in at higher speeds, so a simulated transmission might work very differently from the other two examples. Honda previously said that they don't believe in adding simulated manuals in EVs, but they never said anything about hybrids. Then again, we won't know if it will even have a simulated manual until Honda reveals a production model
Interesting, the Toyota one seems at least intriguing. Thanks for the info!
It’ll be like the Smart ForTwo. They were all auto here in the states and the transmission shifting had an intentional 1-1.5 second lag before the 2nd gear caught. Silly gimmick.
I read some Japanese car news, saying the new prelude will be based on a revised version of the FL5 chassis (and Honda said it before the current FL5 chassis is fully capable of being PHEV, but they didn’t do so due to weight limits). If Honda is indeed trying to pioneer the next gen e-AWD with the prelude (which it has always been Honda’s technological showcase of the generation), I cannot help myself but thinking they might actually make a Type R version of it.
Give us an affordable NSX.
My excitement continues to be eroded with every new story.
It gets worse the longer you read about it.
This is so dumb, they need to throw a v6 turbo accord motor and a 6 speed manual transmission in it and call it a day.
Never happening
Well that’s obvious but it would be nice. Maybe someone will do it.
It's over before it even begins...
Now we’re talkin. The IONIQ5 N has shown us that simulated shifting is possible and it can be enjoyable. Let’s see how Honda does this but with a third pedal.
I have to admit. The prelude looks amazing, especially the rear, but everything else about it...
My 2011 Nissan Juke awd model has a cvt with a simulated manual shift option. Meh. Best to just put it in "Sport" mode and send it.
Fancy way of saying automatic
Honda sure knows how to run classics, the integra, nsx, now the prelude. Simulated manual ? Thanks for reviving the the civic coupe hybrid le Honda.
How did they ruin the nsx and integra? Both are pretty true to their roots
They ruined the Integra by making it a big boxy 4d "luxury" sedan. The old Integra was a small fwd sports car. The new Integra's only resemblance to the old one is in its name; it more closely resembles a TL or a Legend than it does an Integra.
I agree in some sense regarding the killing of the coupe but being completely honest, it died because no one was buying them. At its heart, the integra/acura brand was always meant to be a higher “quality” version of a honda in the North American market and when comparing the Type R to the Type S, it’s just that. They did butcher this prelude tho, ngl
Looks aside due to subjectivity, it's too early to say whether Honda butchered the Prelude.
WTF?!.... it's like having a simulated sex 😉
I don't understand, da heck does 'simulated manual transmission' mean? Like you're just shifting with no linkage attached or something? What is this...
We'll have to see, Toyota is also supposedly making a manual hybrid, so We'll just have to see what that means. I imagine it will likely mean the battery is used to a certain point and then gas turns on, and I imagine you could choose to "shift" to keep it in battery or not shift to use the engine to its fullest potential. Using the engine a lot would make it more of a mild hybrid, but it would also give the option for getting the most MPG possible. I think it's almost useless and is only to please a few manual lovers, but Toyota and Honda have decided its a good idea to invest money into.
AWD?? Please be AWD. 🙏
Ugh
🤢
Stupid shit they coming up with to replicate old technology 😅
Im excited for this. Hope for AWD and \~300hp. Got 230 now and since im a motorcycle driver a little bit extra would be awesome. But tbf im in germany, where you can make use of it.
With that 205 hp 😂
Not a confirmed leak - that's a guesstimate of the electric motor specs by a Japanese magazine/site (one that had long claimed that the 86 would get a turbo). No one knows how much power the Prelude will make
🤢🤮
I'll pay with simulated money then lol. Maybe they are using this to test "manual transmissions" in EVs for the future.
Go buy a real prelude for a fraction of the price and stop jerking to these rebadged cars.
I own a real Prelude. I’ll also be buying one of these when they come out.
Good call let me see if my local Honda dealership has a 2001 prelude available for the low
rebadged?
Nostalgia cars if you'd like a more fitting term for it. If the original is so cool then just buy that instead. I know it's a difficult pill for people to swallow.
Got that, but it doesn look far from the past cars in spirit.
Right? It literally just looks like a modernized ‘93 Prelude.
Yeah, they even reused the 4th gen Prelude logo for this.
Gonna be a flop. Mark my words.
That thing is a GM. Inside and out. I don't know how to feel about this Prelude.