Late last year, Honda showed off a stunning Prelude concept that many initially expected to arrive as an EV. While many concepts never see the light of day as production vehicles, the automaker plans to release the car as a hybrid, but only in Europe – for now.
The production car looks almost identical to the concept, though the new red paint is a striking change from the white Prelude we saw last year. We still don’t have a look at the car’s interior, as Honda left the windows darkly tinted, and the automaker hasn’t shared any specs for the new vehicle.
Initially, there was plenty of talk – and some disappointment – that Honda planned to revive the Prelude as a wimpy hybrid or EV, but the company has some promising powertrains in its stable that could make the car quite the performer if it comes to the States. As Motor1 noted, the Civic Hybrid’s setup could bring 200 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, essentially making the Prelude a Civic coupe variant.
Honda plans to display the new ‘Lude at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, which starts later this week. As far as a release date is concerned, the automaker has only promised that the car would arrive in the “mid-2020s,” so that could mean Americans will be waiting a few years to get it, if it comes at all.
[Images: Honda Europe]
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