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Prelude rush: customers queue, dealers pause orders
The reborn Honda Prelude has become an unexpected sensation. Launched on September 5, 2025, the hybrid coupe has already attracted roughly 2,400 orders in Japan by October 6 — about eight times Honda's internal monthly target of 300 units. The buzz is so intense that several Japanese dealerships have temporarily stopped taking new reservations while Honda moves to increase production and shorten long waiting lists.
Why the sudden demand?
Part nostalgia, part fresh design and part smart market timing: the Prelude name carries weight with buyers who remember its sporty pedigree, but the new model is a modern reinterpretation rather than a direct throwback. The car presents a wide, low stance and coupe proportions tuned for today's electrified lineup. It's aimed at drivers who want style and usable everyday practicality in a coupe package — and many of those buyers appear to be older, well-heeled customers in their 50s and 60s looking for a second car or an upgrade.
"We didn't expect demand to peak this quickly," says sources inside Honda. The result: long waiting lists and dealers racing to manage allocations.
Powertrain and chassis: familiar tech, mixed impressions
Under the skin the Prelude uses a hybrid system already seen in the Civic Hybrid: a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle direct-injection four-cylinder paired with an electric motor. Honda's published figures list:
- Gasoline engine: 141 hp (143 PS) and 134 lb-ft (182 Nm)
- Electric motor: 181 hp (184 PS) and 232 lb-ft (315 Nm)
- Combined: 200 hp (203 PS) and 232 lb-ft (315 Nm)
The car is front-wheel drive and features chassis hardware borrowed from the Civic Type R program — dual-axis strut front suspension, adaptive dampers and reinforced structure for sharper handling. Practical touches include a liftback-style rear opening that increases cargo flexibility, allowing suitcases or even golf bags to fit in a coupe-shaped body.
Where the Prelude falls short for enthusiasts
For a vehicle marketed as a specialty sports coupe, the 200-hp output and the hybrid direct-drive arrangement (rather than a conventional multi-gear transmission) leave some purists underwhelmed. Critics highlight that the drivetrain's character is more efficient and refined than raw and racy — passing maneuvers or spirited runs can feel less energetic than the car's aggressive styling promises. Honda's simulated shift mode (S+ Shift) helps the engagement theme but can't fully disguise the hybrid architecture's limitations.
That said, the chassis tuning and steering feedback have earned praise, and many buyers are clearly prioritizing style, efficiency and usability over outright performance.
Market outlook and what comes next
There is growing chatter among fans about potential future variants: a higher-output hybrid, or even a version with a manual gearbox to win back driving purists. Both moves would broaden the Prelude's appeal and quiet criticisms about its sporty credentials.
Honda has confirmed the Prelude will arrive in the U.S. late in 2025 for the 2026 model year. Given the Japanese rollout, similar spikes in demand — and the likelihood of long waiting lists — are probable in North America.
Highlights:
- 2,400 orders in the first month vs. 300-unit monthly target
- Hybrid 2.0L + electric motor; combined 200 hp, 232 lb-ft
- Chassis ties to Civic Type R; liftback practicality
- Early buyers skew older (50s–60s), more second-car buyers than young enthusiasts
Whether you love it for its design and daily usability or critique its modest power output, the new Honda Prelude is a market success story — and a reminder that nameplates revived with the right mix of nostalgia and modern technology can create real demand.
Source: autoevolution
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