Malaysia is set to welcome a new two-door sports car, or at least a very sleek hybrid version of one, as Honda Malaysia has previewed the all-new Honda Prelude at the Sepang International Circuit, with order books already open ahead of its official local debut in the near future.
Under the bonnet, the Honda Prelude is powered by a series-parallel hybrid powertrain consisting of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 141 hp and 182 Nm. This is paired with a traction motor that produces 184 hp and 315 Nm to drive the front wheels via an e-CVT gearbox, enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h.
While these numbers are nothing to scoff at, Honda states that the Prelude is positioned within the lineup to prioritise ride comfort and handling, distinguishing it from the Civic Type R, which emphasises outright speed. Consequently, for those searching for a genuinely comfortable everyday sports car, the Honda Prelude might just fit the bill.
To ensure the drive remains engaging, however, the Prelude comes equipped with the ‘S+ Shift’ system, which simulates an eight-speed gearbox complete with the sensation of a slight jerk reminiscent of a traditional transmission. There is even an ‘Active Sound Control’ system that pumps in artificial audio for the necessary drama to keep drivers in the zone.
There are also four drive modes available, namely Sport, GT, Comfort, and Individual. The latter enables the driver to customise six settings to their own liking, encompassing the powertrain, steering, suspension, meter display, engine sound, and even the adaptive cruise control system.
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Other sporty inheritance from the Civic Type R, apart from the chassis, includes the hot hatch’s dual-axis front suspension, adaptive dampers, steering system, and high-performance Brembo braking system. Paired with Honda’s enhanced Agile Handling Assist, you can expect the Prelude to be a nimble coupe around winding roads.
Inside, if you are an owner of a Honda Civic, the layout of the Prelude will feel very familiar as it shares a similar dashboard configuration to the C-segment sedan, featuring a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster and a 9-inch centre infotainment display. However, there are unique bits exclusive to the coupe, including semi-bucket seats, a dual-tone interior featuring an embroidered ‘Prelude’ wordmark stitching on the dashboard, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with an Alcantara centre marker.
All said, Honda Malaysia has not revealed any indicative pricing for the Prelude. However, judging by the fact that the hardcore Honda Civic Type R currently retails at RM399,900, the Honda Prelude should carry a friendlier price tag than its hot hatch sibling. We will have to wait for the official local debut, which we hope will happen soon, to find out for sure.
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