Honda has unveiled the interior of its new Prelude hybrid sports coupé, revealing a cabin that leans heavily on its Civic hatchback roots while injecting a dose of driver-focused enhancements.
Borrowing elements from its Civic stablemate, the Prelude’s dashboard houses the familiar 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, a digital instrument display, and the same climate control switchgear as found in the Civic. However, Honda hasn’t just copied and pasted—the Prelude gets several key tweaks to dial up the sporting appeal.
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Up front, there are bolstered bucket seats, with the driver’s seat offering extra support to ensure a better body hug. The steering wheel gains a motorsport-inspired rally-style marker stitched into the straight-ahead position.
Perhaps the most intriguing addition is the new S+ button on the centre console. This activates the Prelude’s simulated gearbox—Honda’s latest innovation to inject a bit of old-school mechanical feel into its modern hybrid tech. Under the bonnet, the Prelude packs the same 2.0-litre e:HEV hybrid powertrain as the Civic, but with a sharper focus on driver engagement.
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Honda says the system will “simulate the sound and feel of quick automatic gearchanges,” a move designed to enhance the driving experience without sacrificing the efficiency benefits of the hybrid powertrain. According to Honda, the Prelude “not only delivers exceptional efficiency but also the fun-to-drive performance for which this model is known.”
As with other e:HEV models, the Prelude’s hybrid system primarily relies on an electric motor to drive the wheels, with the petrol engine acting largely as a generator. However, the new S+ Shift system builds upon Honda’s existing Linear Shift Control, allowing the engine to be used more aggressively for direct propulsion when needed.
With S+ engaged, drivers can take control via paddle shifters, offering a sharper upshift feel and a quicker response from the motor. The system also integrates with Honda’s Active Sound Control, amplifying engine noise in sync with RPM through the speakers to create a more visceral driving experience.
The ‘S+’ nomenclature is a nod to Honda’s sporting heritage, referencing legendary models like the S600, S2000, and Type S.
The Prelude is confirmed for New Zealand, likely to arrive late in the year.
