Honda Prelude Returns to United States, Minus a Manual Transmission

It is confirmed: Honda is bringing the Prelude nameplate back to the United States. The automaker announced on Tuesday the Prelude is set to return to the U.S. in late-2025, just in time for the 2026 model year.

Honda’s previous Prelude, the fifth-generation model, was last produced in 2001. Now the Prelude name will return for a sixth generation.

The new Prelude model was previewed by the brand’s 2023 concept car. Not many details are confirmed for the 2026 production model, however Honda says the two-door coupe will only be offered with its two-motor hybrid powertrain, and it will not come with the option of a manual transmission. Instead, the new-gen Honda Prelude will debut a new drive mode called Honda S+ Shift, a system that simulates gear changes. It will presumably be similar to the direct drive system that uses fixed ratios instead of actual gears, except a bit more performance focused. Honda says the new Honda S+ Shift drive mode will “enhance the driving experience” by delivering “maximum levels of driver engagement.”

Prior to publishing the promise of an enhanced driving experience, Honda’s Large Project Chief Engineer, Tomoyuki Yamagami, told CarsGuide that the Prelude “isn’t going to be the sportiest, zippiest car that’s going to be tossed into the circuits,” and also mentioned, “this is going to be the ‘prelude’ for all of the electric vehicles that Honda is going to be launching.”

“So that is why, because it’s going to be one of the first such models, we thought the name Prelude just best fits this model.”

“We’re developing this as a four-seater, so you will be seeing a second row with two seats available as well.”

Yamagami’s words make it sound like the next-gen Honda Prelude will be designed as a practical fun-to-drive daily driving vehicle, and since it is the “’prelude’ for all of the electric vehicles that Honda is going to be launching,” options are opened for a more performance-oriented trim in the future.

Check out this five-speed 1987 Honda Prelude 2.0Si that sold for a shocking $79,000 auction.

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