The New Honda Prelude Makes Goodwood Debut as a Sleek Hybrid Coupe

Classic Name, Fresh Look at Goodwood

At the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, we saw a wide variety of automotive spectacles, from brand-new EVs to hypercar classics, all as scarce as hens’ teeth. But one of our favorite cars to make an appearance was a name we haven’t heard in decades: the Honda Prelude.

At the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, surrounded by everything from ludicrous hypercars to blisteringly quick EVs like the Ioniq 6 N, one coupe stood out. It didn’t catch our eye for being the fastest or flashiest, but for something more niche: familiarity. After years of concept models and rumors, the Honda Prelude is back, and it made a quiet but confident appearance in the English countryside.

Retro Roots, Modern Execution

Many modern reboots lean heavily on name recognition but lose the original spirit somewhere along the way. Honda avoided that trap. The new Prelude is sleek, low-slung, and attractive from every angle —just like its predecessors. Its long hood and sloping roofline echo past Preludes, while sharp LED headlights that connect at the front, a rear lightbar, and flush door handles signal its forward focus. The show car wore Boost Blue Pearl, a bold color borrowed from the Civic Type R, with some black accents to emphasize its sporty nature.

Related: Could the New Honda Prelude Spark a Comeback for Other Sport Coupes?

Under The Skin

Honda hasn’t revealed exact specs, but the next-gen Prelude will be a hybrid sports car, pairing a four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. We expect something similar to the Civic Si’s 200-hp four-cylinder engine, but only time will tell. Further sticking to its roots, Honda confirmed it’ll stay front-wheel-drive. Unfortunately, it seems Honda won’t offer the new Prelude with a manual transmission at all. Inside, it shares much of its layout and design with the Civic. The biggest difference is a set of Prelude logos stitched into the headrests.

A Return Built for True Enthusiasts

Before disappearing in 2001, the Honda Prelude had gone through five generations. This new model doesn’t just borrow the name for nostalgia’s sake. It’s Honda leaning into what made the original so special, and giving today’s drivers something that’s become increasingly rare: a sleek, sporty coupe built for people who love driving. Although rear-wheel-drive contenders like the Toyota GR86 might outperform it, we still applaud Honda’s passion project aimed at enthusiasts. In a world flooded with crossovers, it’s refreshing to see a car like this make a comeback.