The return of Prelude – the hills await

There is a waft of drivers out there who have never heard off, nor sampled the Honda 
Prelude, its 25-year absence now about to be rectified, as we ready for the all-new 
Prelude e:HEV that will start from €59,995. This new hybrid Prelude e:HEV will 
showcase the Honda S+ Shift technology to further enhance the ‘joy of driving’ 
offered by Honda’s latest sports coupe. 
 
The 2026 Prelude will be the sixth-generation model, introducing the world to 
Honda’s S+ Shift helps the Prelude deliver qui8ck, automatic gearchanges. There is 
also the latest development of Honda’s Linear Shift Control, a system that works in 
combination with Active Sound Control (ASC) to correlate engine sound, revs and 
road speed for a more natural feel when accelerating.   
 
The Prelude features Honda’s full hybrid e:HEV powertrain, which pairs a 2.0-litre 
petrol engine with the company’s lightweight dual electric motor automatic 
transmission, the 184PS (135kW) system seeking to offer the driver exhilaration with 
responsive power delivery, excellent efficiency and superb refinement. There is also 
an array of drive modes to choose from, which can be used to switch between four 
options at the touch of a button – ‘Comfort’, ‘GT’, ‘Sport’, and ‘Individual' – each of 
which fine-tunes the characteristics of the hybrid powertrain, suspension and 
steering response to suit the driver’s needs.  
 
The interior has been created to deliver a driver-focused feeling of control and 
exceptional visibility, featuring high quality materials and an uncluttered layout that 
allows occupants to enjoy the vehicle’s careful craftsmanship. The Prelude interior 
options include two-tone material finishes that feature either a white-and-blue or 
black-and-blue theme.   
 
A customisable 10.2-inch driver display features Prelude graphics and coloured 
themes tailored to each drive mode. There is also the latest in connectivity with 
Honda’s responsive nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system that features Apple 
CarPlay, wireless connectivity, and Android Auto, alongside a rich and powerful 
eight-speaker audio system jointly developed with Bose.  
 
Belying its sleek exterior profile, the new Prelude offers space and usability, with 
seating for four occupants, alongside a large hatchback tailgate that opens to reveal 
up to 663-litres of luggage space. Customers can also choose from a selection of 
exterior colour options, including a new rich Moonlit White Pearl, plus Meteoroid 
Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Rallye Red, and Racing Blue Pearl. 
 
John Saunders, Managing Director of Honda Ireland, speaking on the Prelude’s 
return to the Irish market, stated “We are delighted to have the Prelude back in the 
Irish market after 25 years. The all-new Prelude has been eagerly anticipated by 
driving enthusiasts in Ireland and will be available across the Honda dealer network 
to order from July. This marks an exciting return to the market for the Honda 
Prelude at an attractive entry price of €59,995.”