Honda Prelude two-door coupe to return as electric vehicle

Like most of its counterparts in the mainstream scene, Honda is going all-in on electric vehicles (EVs). The latest from Japan is that the automaker could bring back the Prelude coupe in electric guise. 

The new Honda Prelude EV could come with a curvier aesthetic [Image: Best Car Web] 

Japanese auto website Best Car Web reports that the electric Prelude is one of several models that Honda has in the pipeline, despite the industry in general having to contend with a semiconductor shortage and production delays. The announcement was supposed to have been made at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, which has since been canceled and will return in 2023 as the Japan All-Industry Show.

The Prelude electric concept is reportedly scheduled to be unveiled in 2028, likely alongside the rumored NSX successor said to come with solid-state batteries powering an electric motor and an evolved all-wheel-drive system. These put the new NSX in direct contention with the upcoming Nissan GT-R R36 that will pack a hybrid powertrain under the shell.

Meanwhile, the resurrected Prelude could be Honda’s answer to the GR86 by Toyota or even the BRZ from Subaru, both of which are built around the same platform. The fight will be interesting to say the least, given reports that the next-generation GR86 could come as early as 2025, dropping the Subaru boxer engine in lieu of a 1.5-liter turbocharged hybrid and a platform adapted from the Lexus IS. 

Toyota originally owned the rights to the Prelude name, which was amicably given to Honda

Honda emphasizes that the electric Prelude will be underpinned by a new EV chassis, suggesting that it will not use the existing Honda e platform. As outlined in the company’s EV roadmap, some 30 models are planned for global release by 2030, spanning from “commercial-use mini EVs” to “high value-added EVs” with a production target of 2 million cars annually. 

The Prelude was originally produced between 1978 and 2001, spanning five generations and loosely based on the Accord. Both models were part of music-themed names Honda used, including the Quintet, Jazz, Concerto, and Ballade. 

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