New Honda Prelude touches down in 2026

The Honda Prelude name is coming back to the UK in 2026.

After releasing images of a new Prelude concept car earlier this year, Honda has now confirmed that the hybrid model will debut in Europe in the first half of 2026, marking the sixth generation of the name.

Its return will come a quarter of a century after it was phased out in 2001. Although few details about the new car have yet been released, Honda says it will introduced a new type of tech called Honda S+ Shift, which simulates the sound and feel of quick automatic gear changes and is intended to help make the new Prelude and engaging and fun car to drive.

The promise of a new front-wheel-drive coupe goes against the prevailing trend – there are currently no such new cars on sale following the cessation of cars like the Audi TT and Volkswagen Scirocco.

New Honda Prelude: price and release date

These are very early days for the return of the Honda Prelude badge – we know that the car will arrive in Europe, and presumably the UK, in the first half of 2026, but there’s been no indication of price yet.

New Honda Prelude: interior and exterior

We don’t officially know much about the new Honda Prelude yet, save for the images you see here. But it's likely to share the same mechanical underpinnings as the Honda Civic, which gives you a rough idea of size.

The concept looks relatively production ready compared to the outlandish adornments you see on some concept cars, so features like the low bonnet, grille-integrated headlights and full-width tail lights could all remain. The concept car rides on 20-inch alloy wheels.

No photos of the interior have yet been released but it, too, is likely to take inspiration from the latest Civic, including its infotainment system and digital driver display.

New Honda Prelude: engines and gearboxes

All we know about the new Honda Prelude is that it’ll have a hybrid powertrain. Again we look to the latest Civic for inspiration, which uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors, making 184PS. A variation of this seems likely for the Prelude.