John Cena helps Honda reintroduce the Prelude for a new generation
Published on Jan 13, 2026 at 1:57 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jan 13, 2026 at 1:57 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
Long-time Honda fan John Cena took his Civic Type-R in for a service and ended up leaving with the eagerly anticipated 2026 Honda Prelude.
Cena has an enviable car collection, packed with gems including a 1969 MGC GY sports car, and a 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.
However, until recently, his daily driver was a far more humble 2024 Civic Type-R.
Now, it seems as though he’s swapped the Civic for the 2026 Honda Prelude, and he seemed to be delighted with his new ride.
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John Cena is a big Honda fan, and now the proud owner of a 2026 Prelude
The WWE legend has had a partnership with Honda since 2020 and has lent his voice to several of their commercials.
But even outside of that role, Cena has proved himself to be a huge Honda fan.
Prior to his 2024 Honda Civic Type-R, he drove a 2021 model.
But now he’s decided to move on from the Civic Type-R with the newly launched Prelude, and we can see why.
The original Honda Prelude launched way back in 1978 and remained in production until 2001.
In 2024, Honda announced that the nameplate was being revived, this time exclusively as a hybrid.
The carmaker also confirmed it would be the first car to feature its new Honda S+ Shift – a new drive mode that emulates ‘the sound and feel of quick automatic gear changes’.
“We are thrilled to be bringing back such an iconic nameplate to the Honda lineup,” Honda National Auto Sales assistant vice president Jessika Laudermilk said at the time.
Even before its launch, the Prelude proved so popular that last October, dealerships in Japan had to put a temporary halt on new orders.
But in the US, WWE legend Cena is now the proud owner of the hotly anticipated 2026 Prelude.
Took the Civic TypeR in for service and was fortunate enough to pick up the brand new @Honda Prelude!! Thank U @wc_honda for helping add this Boost Blue Beauty to the Honda Lineup! Time to see what this thing can do!!! pic.twitter.com/th2anjPkim
— John Cena (@JohnCena) January 10, 2026
The star shared a snap of his new car on X and revealed that he had popped into Wesley Chapel Honda for a service for his Civic Type-R, but was ‘fortunate’ enough to leave with a brand-new Boost Blue Honda Prelude.
We just think it’s a real shame, he didn’t pose for a photo with his new car…
Cena once bought a fake Lamborghini, and spent years waiting to drive it
While these days, Cena has a very enviable car collection, back in 2003 he decided to cut a few corners to save some cash and bought a fake Lamborghini Diablo, but it turned out to be a very unwise move.
“I didn’t want to spring for a Lamborghini, so I bought a fake one,” he told Club Shay Shay.
“I found a company that would do it, they put a V12 in it. I’m, like, ‘man, it’s the same thing, it looks pretty good, it looks great! I’ll buy it!’”
However, the car wasn’t delivered for another two years, and when it arrived, it was riddled with problems and issues.
So much so, he had to send the Lamfauxghini to 10 different auto shops over a 21-year period before he could finally get behind the wheel.
Well, at least he won’t need to wait to take his new 2026 Honda Prelude out for a spin.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
