2025 Honda Prelude Launch in Japan: Price, Release, e:HEV Hybrid
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| Copyright Honda Japan |
Overview
Honda's revived Prelude arrives as a modern "speciality sports" coupe built for the electrified era, pairing the brand's latest e:HEV two-motor hybrid system with a focus on everyday usability and emotional design. Set to go on sale September 5 in Japan, it is configured in a single grade at 6,179,800 yen, positioning it as a high-content, style-led sports model for drivers who want performance without sacrificing comfort and practicality.
Design
Inspired by the image of a glider in smooth flight, the exterior emphasizes a low, sharp nose, flowing surfaces, and a planted, wide stance that visually telegraphs stability and speed. Functional lighting includes a multifunction headlamp with an adaptive driving beam and an active cornering light. Details such as a laser-bonded roof with a glass-printed antenna, flush exterior door handles, and a black chrome grille trim accentuate the vehicle's premium appearance and aerodynamic design. Colour choices span Moonlit White Pearl (a new white engineered to suppress stray reflections and sharpen form), Meteoroid Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, and Frame Red, plus a Moonlit White Pearl & Black two-tone limited to Honda's online store, with rental availability via Honda Cars.
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Powertrain and character
The Prelude uses Honda's latest e: HEV two-motor hybrid with a new control technology called Honda S+ Shift that simulates eight "virtual" gears, tightening engine speed control to deliver crisp response and a more mechanical, shifting feel under acceleration and deceleration. An active sound control system layers synchronized engine tones through the speakers to heighten the sensation of performance, while the instrument cluster reacts in concert to sharpen driver engagement. A first-for-Honda coasting control mimics the light deceleration of neutral when the selector is tapped "+" in Drive, easing pedal workload during long off-throttle approaches such as rolling toward distant red lights.
Drive modes
Three base modes—Sport, GT, and Comfort—cover distinct personalities, and with Honda S+ Shift logic blended in, drivers can enjoy six unique driving feels from the same hardware. An Individual mode lets owners tailor key parameters such as powertrain, steering, suspension, cluster, engine sound, and ACC behaviour, creating a bespoke setup for daily commutes or spirited runs. Chassis and dynamics
Underneath, the Prelude borrows core hardware from the Civic Type R's acclaimed chassis, then retunes it for this speciality coupe's balance of response and ride. Highlights include a dual-axis strut front suspension to tame torque steer, an adaptive damper system for precise control of ride and roll, high-response steering with variable gear ratio, equal-stiffness drive shafts, Brembo high-capacity brakes for fade resistance, and rigid 19-inch wheels with noise-reducing design. Honda's Agile Handling Assist widens its operating range to include braking, enhancing turn-in, line-tracing, and stability from corner entry through exit and even during emergency manoeuvres.
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Interior
The cabin theme extends the "glide" concept with a calm, horizontal view out and a tailored ambience that differentiates driver and passenger needs. The seat of the driver's side increases lateral support for sporty driving. In contrast, the passenger seat emphasizes a gently enveloping comfort, all set against a Blue-White scheme with rich materials, embroidered Prelude logos, and thoughtful details like door lining shapes that make entry and exit smoother. A D-shaped steering wheel, metal shift paddles, and a model-specific full-graphic cluster reinforce the car's performance intent without overwhelming the space.
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Tech experience
A Bose premium system with eight speakers is standard, tuned for concert-like immersion and equipped with Dynamic Speed Compensation to automatically adjust volume and tone with road speed for consistent fidelity. The 9-inch Honda CONNECT display integrates Google built-in, bringing Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play directly into the interface for seamless, familiar connectivity on the move.
Despite its low, sleek profile, the Prelude uses a wide-opening tailgate to reveal a versatile cargo area that fits two suitcases, while folding the 60/40 rear seats opens space for items like two 9.5-size golf bags or even two surfboards. Underfloor storage, a convenience hook, and a stand-up floor panel that doubles as a divider make it easy to organize gear front-to-back, aligning the car's "special" image with genuine daily usability.
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Safety and assistance
Honda SENSING appears with a comprehensive, Prelude-specific tuning aimed at natural, human-like interventions across a broad range of scenarios. Coverage includes collision mitigation braking, false start suppression forward and backwards, near-distance collision mitigation, pedestrian avoidance steering, road departure prevention, ACC with low-speed follow, lane-keeping, Traffic Jam Assist, start notification, traffic sign recognition, adaptive driving beam, blind spot monitoring, parking sensors, rear cross-traffic support, and sudden-acceleration suppression.
Pricing and availability
Sales begin September 5 in Japan with a single, fully specified grade at 6,179,800 yen, reflecting the depth of chassis hardware, hybrid control tech, safety coverage, and in-cabin features provided as standard. Alongside the four core colours, the Moonlit White Pearl & Black two-tone will be offered in limited numbers through Honda's "Honda ON" online store, and Honda Cars dealers will also make the Prelude available for rental, expanding access beyond immediate purchase.
Final take
The new Prelude seeks to recapture the emotional appeal of the nameplate while incorporating hybrid sophistication and significant chassis upgrades. It also provides everyday usability, making a low coupe surprisingly easy to live with. For drivers seeking an electric-era sports experience that remains tactile and richly engineered, this coupe is a carefully composed overture to the next chapter of enthusiast motoring.
