After being previewed as a concept last year at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, Honda has now revealed that the Prelude is officially making a comeback. The 2026 Honda Prelude carries over most of the stuff that you’ve seen from the concept car that was previewed at the show, but now, more technical details have also been revealed as well.
The main highlight here in the Prelude’s announcement is its S+ Shift system–a feature that will likewise be the main highlight of Honda’s next-generation e:HEV hybrid drivetrain. Yes, they’re using the Prelude as the vehicle that will debut the successor of the brand’s current e:HEV system.
Hybrids with an e-CVT or any similar transmission are known to have a rubber band-like throttle feel, wherein the engine sound and RPM doesn’t match with how the car accelerates. Just check our reviews of Toyota’s hybrids and you’ll know what we mean. Honda has mostly mitigated this with their current e:HEV system’s Linear Shift Control, which induces simulated gear shifts just like in a traditional multi-gear automatic. S+ Shift builds upon that by now inducing shift shocks by coordinating the engine together with the electric motor, and this has also enabled Honda to engineer paddle shifters that let you go through a set of simulated gear ratios like as if you were driving a car with a multi-geared transmission.
Apart from that, Honda has also revealed key details about its next-generation e:HEV hybrid system. There’ll be a new 2.0-liter and a smaller 1.5-liter i-VTEC naturally-aspirated four-cylinder, dependin on the model. There’s the expected more powerful electric motors, too. For the first time, all-wheel drive (AWD) versions of Honda’s hybrds will now come with electronic AWD (E-AWD), wherein electric motors now power the rear wheels as opposed to sending power from the engine via a mechanical shaft. Finally, while Honda also says in their spec sheet that they use an “e-CVT”, that’s mostly to eliminate customer confusion due to how unique Honda’s transmission is. As stated in our review of the CR-V e:HEV RS, Honda uses a clutch-based system for their hybrids, which connected and disconnects the engine to the wheels as needed.
The 2026 Honda Prelude, however, won’t be utilizing a new platform. Instead, the Prelude will actually use the current Civic and CR-V’s platform–albeit not completely carried over. The Prelude is shorter and wider than the Civic, and it’s going to come with a plethora of chassis enhancements to justify its existence in the Honda lineup.
So when is the 2026 Honda Prelude expected to debut? The Japanese automaker said it’ll be officially revealed in late 2025, and the most likely candidate for such an important launch will be the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Here’s to hoping that the Prelude also gets sold in the Philippines as well.
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