Honda revives the Prelude for 2026 with hybrid power, Type R parts and a wild new S+ 'fake' shift mode

The new 2026 Honda Prelude is finally here, and there’s more good news.

Honda decided to revive one of its most iconic namesakes and, for once, this isn’t an electric car, it’s a hybrid.

It also borrows several elements from the Civic Type R.

And there’s something else that Honda came up with.

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The new Honda Prelude picks up where the previous model left off

Some automakers are bringing back legendary nameplates in electric form or as SUVs (like the Ford Puma, for instance), but Honda decided not to do that.

The Prelude is a sports coupe, exactly like its predecessors.

It uses a 2.0-liter engine, paired with an electric motor, for a combined power output of 200 horsepower, which is adequate for a car that weighs 1,460 kilograms (3,219 pounds).

That’s not too bad for a car with a heavy battery and a heavy electric powertrain.

The new Prelude borrows several components from the Civic Type R, including dual-axis front suspension, wider front and rear tracks, and Brembo front brakes.

Honda also gave it a strange, but intriguing, ‘fake’ shifter.

Fitted with paddles on the steering wheel, this transmission is automatic, but it simulates the sounds and feelings of a manual, and it also incorporates regenerative braking.

The 2026 Honda Prelude is also relatively cheap.

The MSRP is $42,000.

Hopefully this won’t spark a markup ‘war’ on the part of dealerships and resellers.

Why this car is so important to Honda

The Prelude is arguably one of the most meaningful and well regarded models in Honda’s history.

If we asked 1,000 random car fans to name five icons from Honda’s past, they’d all definitely name the NSX – no doubt about that – and then they’d probably name the S2000, Civic Type R, Integra and Prelude.

First unveiled in 1978, the Prelude ‘survived’ five generations before being discontinued in 2001.

Then, for over two decades, Honda left it in the back burner, maybe because they weren’t sure what to do with it.

Fortunately for us, they made the right choice and brought it back a sports coupe.

The way it’s supposed to be.