2026 Honda Prelude revealed: new coupé to get simulated automatic gearbox
All-new Honda Prelude will feature new technology designed to simulate the feeling of a traditional automatic gearbox...
On sale Early 2026 | Price from £40,000 (est)
Chameleons may be able to mask their identity to fool predators in the wild, but the upcoming Honda Prelude hybrid has a similar trick up its sleeve – because while it isn't fitted with a traditional automatic gearbox, it'll fool you into thinking it does.
Indeed, while most technical details surrounding the new generation of Honda's sporty coupé are under wraps, officials have confirmed that it'll come with a new technology dubbed 'S+ Shift', which aims to simulate the quick shifts and feel of a traditional automatic gearbox, even in a car which doesn't have one. It's understood that the new Prelude will instead be fited with a CVT automatic gearbox, which is traditionally used in hybrid and electric cars.
CVT gearboxes are mechanically simple and fuel efficient, and keep the engine in its power band whenever you accelerate by using two rotating cones instead of gears. That results in smooth acceleration, but usually means high revs and more noise than a traditional auto' box would generate. By simulating the feel of gears, Honda says its S+ Shift system will "enhance the 'joy of driving'" in the new Prelude.
The new Prelude won't be the only car to offer the simulated feeling of a different gearbox, with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric SUV able to simulate the feeling of an automatic gearbox via its N e-shift mode.
The last Honda Prelude went off sale 23 years ago, but the model is making a return as a sporty hybrid, destined to count the BMW 2 Series M240, Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 and Toyota GR86 among its key rivals.
While the notion of the new Prelude being a hybrid may make performance lovers frown, the instant pulling power provided by an electric motor is likely to help the new Prelude feel pleasantly quick, even considering the weight of its hybrid battery. And in keeping with Preludes of the past, the new car is expected to be front-wheel drive as standard, with no four-wheel drive option.
Honda is no stranger to hybrid technology, with the current Honda Jazz small car, Honda Civic family car, and Honda CR-V, HR-V and ZR-V SUVs all getting hybrid power. In the Civic, a 2.0-litre petrol engine works in conjunction with an electric motor to produce a combined 181bhp. Reports have suggested that this setup will be used in the Prelude, with power upped to around 204bhp. For context, the fastest versions of the old Prelude topped out with 197bhp.
Despite being expected to offer a sporty driving experience, Honda officials have already suggested that the Prelude won’t be the most hardcore car in its line-up – that will remain the Honda Civic Type R hot hatchback, which gets 325bhp from its 2.0-litre petrol engine.
We’re yet to see inside the Prelude, but it’s expected to offer seating for five, a low-slung driving position, and similar technology to what you’ll already find in the latest Civic. That means digital instruments, physical controls for the air conditioning, and an infotainment system which should be fairly easy to get along with.
We’d expect the Prelude to be priced as a premium alternative to the Civic, meaning a starting price of around £40,000 is likely. That means the Prelude will cost more than the current GR86, but less than the BMW M240i and Mercedes-AMG CLA 35.
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