New Honda Prelude coming in 2026 with hybrid tech and simulated gear shifts

• New two-door hybrid sports coupe
• Front-wheel drive with simulated gear shift tech
• Arriving in early 2026

You’re looking at the first official pictures of the new Honda Prelude, a two-door coupe that promises to deliver sporty looks, driving enjoyment and efficiency in equal measures. It was teased as a concept car earlier this year, but Honda has now confirmed that the sports car will enter production in early 2026, 48 years after the original first launched.

These latest images prove that none of its coupe looks have been watered down for production, either. It’s expected to use the same engine as the Honda Civic hatchback, but new ‘S+ Shift’ tech promises to ramp up the “joy of driving” with simulated gear shifts.

What do I need to know about the new Honda Prelude?

The driving idea behind the new Honda Prelude is to reintroduce the mass-market, affordable sports coupe in the modern age. The Japanese carmaker believes there is still an audience for fun and efficient small cars today, despite the ever-growing popularity of SUVs. Chief engineer and project lead, Tomoyuki Yamagami, described the new Prelude like a “glider” – both incredibly efficient, but also “agile and joyful”.

While you could argue that the Toyota GR86 and Mazda MX-5 are already championing the same cause, legislation changes have cut short the Toyota’s production run, and neither is particularly efficient in today’s era of electrification. Honda hopes that the new Prelude will improve on both fronts, being both a mass-production model but also using a hybrid system to improve fuel efficiency.

“The Honda Prelude is an iconic nameplate, and this latest model promises to build on that heritage with our trademark hybrid performance and the latest dynamic technology,” Honda’s European VP, Hans de Jaeger, said. “All with a view to not only delivering exceptional efficiency, but also the fun-to-drive performance for which this model is known.”

What do we know about the Prelude’s hybrid system?

Honda hasn’t given away much about the Prelude’s engine and hybrid system yet, but we do know it will pinch much of the current Honda Civic’s architecture, including its front-wheel drive layout. It’s likely, therefore, that it will use the Civic’s engine, CVT gearbox and self-charging hybrid system, too.

That would mean a 2.0-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors – a system Honda calls ‘e:HEV’. We’re fans of the Civic’s sporty nature and nippy 181bhp engine, but it’s plausible that the Prelude could introduce some performance upgrades to turn things up a notch.

There are no immediate plans for a Type R version of the Prelude, even though Yagamami hinted that the Civic Type R’s 324bhp engine would fit under the bonnet. Instead, Honda is planning future expansion to the Prelude range, perhaps to include an all-electric version once the hybrid has been “accepted by customers first”.

What is Honda’s S+ Shift technology?

The new Prelude will be the first Honda to use its ‘S+ Shift’ technology, which will mimic the snappy upshifts and downshifts of an automatic gearbox.

Honda’s hybrid cars don’t use a traditional gearbox at all, instead relying on the electric motor for low-speed power and the petrol engine for higher speeds through its e:HEV system. While we don’t know exactly how the S+ Shift feature will work, we expect that it will allow the driver to use steering-wheel mounted paddles to change up and down between different simulated gear ratios. Judging by the S+ button shown in these latest pictures, we imagine the driver will be able to turn the system off.

According to Honda, the system “will simulate the sound and feel of quick automatic gear changes – helping to deliver the model’s perfect balance of exhilarating driving pleasure to a new generation of Prelude drivers.”

What about the design of the Honda Prelude?

These first official pictures of the new Prelude show that it’s nearly identical to the concept car from earlier this year. The sleek, two-door coupe body has remained, with a wide stance and more than a hint of the second-generation Honda NSX supercar. 

The concept version was fitted with black, 20-inch alloy wheels which appear to have made the jump to production, too. Unfortunately, the concept’s neat carbon-fibre spoiler hasn’t survived. We haven’t been able to take a peek at the interior yet, but we expect it to feature two small rear seats, much like the Toyota GR86.

How much will the Honda Prelude cost and when can I buy one?

As with the technical details, Honda has remained tight-lipped on the Prelude’s pricing. But, judging by the Civic-based underpinnings, a starting price of under £40,000 would seem reasonable and provide enough of a gap to the £50,000 Civic Type R above. It will arrive in European showrooms in early 2026.

Why not read about a different take on the Japanese performance car – the new Toyota GR Yaris?