It’s Honda Malaysia’s 25th anniversary this year, and in a celebratory video published on its social media channels, the company is seemingly giving us a hint at what it intends to start its next 25 years with – the all-new sixth-generation Honda Prelude, making its appearance in the final seconds of the video.
You may remember that Malaysia was in fact the first country outside of Japan to showcase the Prelude, with the stunning red coupe being showcased at the 2024 Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show. Coupled with the latest teaser over the weekend, could the Honda Prelude arrive in Malaysia as soon as next year?
The all-new sixth-generation Honda Prelude marks the return of the iconic nameplate, 24 years after the last Prelude left showrooms. But while many had hoped its striking appearance would mean a high-performance engine more in line with the critically acclaimed Honda Civic Type R, Honda has instead opted for an e:HEV hybrid powertrain featured in the current hybrid (non-performance) Civic.
That comprises a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 141 hp and 182 Nm, paired with a traction motor that delivers 184 hp and 315 Nm to the front wheels via an e-CVT gearbox.
Honda has yet to release official 0-100 km/h times for the Prelude, but the Civic e:HEV offers a useful benchmark, completing the sprint in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 180 km/h. The Prelude is slightly heavier than the Civic sedan, tipping the scales at 1,460 kg compared to the sedan’s 1,445 kg, but different software tuning could realistically see it shave off a few tenths.
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Honda says the all-new Prelude’s chassis has also seen several improvements based on the Civic Type R. This means it carries over the performance model’s dual-axis front suspension, adaptive dampers, steering system, and even high-performance Brembo brakes.
On top of this, the Prelude features Honda’s S+ Shift system, activated via a large button on the centre console. The system essentially emulates an eight-speed gearbox for the e:HEV powertrain, and channels synthetic engine sounds through the Active Sound Control (ASC) system, helping drivers “feel more connected” to the car.
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Inside the all-new Honda Prelude, much of its design carries over from its family sedan sibling, but in a more upmarket two-tone style. A 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen dominate the dashboard, while sculpted bucket seats remind passengers they’re in a “special” car. Like the Honda e:N1, the gearshift lever has been replaced with push buttons on the centre console.
The all-new sixth-generation Honda Prelude has already launched in Japan with a sticker price of JPY6.179 million (approx. RM163k), which is in fact more than the Honda Civic Type R in its home country (JPY 4.997 million, approx. RM132k). For comparison, the Civic Type R starts at RM399,900 on the road and without insurance in Malaysia. So if (when?) the Prelude arrives in Malaysia, don’t be surprised if the car demands an asking price of over RM400,000.
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