Management
All-New Prelude Equipped with Excitement - New Hybrid Sports Car Provides “Special Moments”
POINTWhat you can learn from this article
- Development of the 6th-generation Prelude began with the aim to respond to latent demand for “the ideal sports car” and realize a new hybrid sports car to pioneer the electric vehicle era.
- To realize the grand concept of “Unlimited Glide” inspired by childhood experiences, the development team took to gliding firsthand to pursue the thrill of the extraordinary.
- The Prelude aims to provide a universal excitement and emotion that transcends borders and generations, offering special moments that customers can share with family, friends, and their past selves.
The all-new Prelude is scheduled for release in autumn 2025. As the 6th-generation and the first release in 25 years, the Prelude has already generated significant interest prior to its launch. In this issue of Honda Stories, Tomoyuki Yamagami, the development leader for the all-new Prelude, describes the journey to its revival, the challenges faced, and his passion for the Prelude.
Prelude Development Leader View More Close Tomoyuki Yamagami
Read MorePrelude Returns for the First Time in 25 Years, But Why Now?
The Prelude, Honda’s first personal coupe, was launched in 1978, featuring Honda’s cutting-edge technologies, including Japan’s first electric sunroof and 4-wheel ABS*1, as well as the world’s first 4WS*2. In autumn 2025, the 6th-generation Prelude will be launched, inheriting the “Joy of Driving” and embodying Honda’s unwavering sports spirit, as the world enters the era of full electrification.
*1 Anti-lock Braking System: Technology that prevents all wheels from locking during emergency braking or on slippery surfaces.
*2 Four-Wheel Steering: Steering system that allows all four wheels to be steered.
First-generation Prelude (1978, left) and 6th-generation Prelude prototype on a public road course during an event held in Odaiba, Tokyo, in April 2025 (right)
What led up to the revival of the Prelude after 25 years?
The concept model was unveiled at Japan Mobility Show (JMS) 2023. It was not included in the initial exhibition outline. Were many people inside and outside of Honda surprised when it was suddenly revealed?
We had not originally planned to exhibit the Prelude, but as JMS approached, we had the opportunity to show the prototype to the executive team at the design center. When the president, Mibe, saw the Prelude, he said, “If it’s this far developed, let’s definitely exhibit it at JMS,” and the decision was made on the spot.
Typically, it is very difficult to showcase a vehicle in the development stage at a mobility show, as new model announcements are scheduled well in advance. However, the management team recognized the prototype’s merits upon seeing it, leading to this unusual unveiling. From there, we worked hard to convey the grand concept within a short preparation period, with all relevant parties, including development, design, sales, and public relations, working together to prepare in the limited time. At JMS, we received a lot of positive feedback from both inside and outside the company, and we truly felt that the unveiling was worthwhile.
This also boosted the team’s motivation toward the launch.
Tomoyuki Yamagami, development leader of Prelude
Many people were surprised that Honda is launching a coupe. What are the reasons and significance of focusing on a coupe in today’s age?
Amid a trend toward practical vehicles, when I asked myself what the role of a coupe was, I realized that there must be a unique excitement that only a coupe can offer.
For example, when thinking about where to go, and with whom, or what to do, the unique design and sporty performance of a coupe has the power to create excitement. We aimed to create a special car that evokes that sense of excitement, and that is why we firmly wanted the coupe form, which is also a tradition of the Prelude series.
“Glider” Inspired the New Prelude’s Concept
What is the meaning behind the grand concept of the all-new Prelude “Unlimited Glide”?
The all-new Prelude’s concept expresses the desire to freely go anywhere (like a glider) and the excitement of the extraordinary.
Why is the concept of a car based on a glider?
While struggling with the conceptual design and direction of the new Prelude, I suddenly recalled in my childhood, my grandfather building a radio-controlled glider, and the blue sky and white clouds I saw when he took me to the riverbank. These images, along with the concepts of sky, blue, and glider, which resonate with carbon neutrality, electrification, and environmental awareness, came to mind.
Design and dynamics are one and the same. From the very beginning, we shared with the designers the vision of a sports car that was unlike a fighter jet, but rather a glider with long wings, flying gracefully and effortlessly.
A photo from Yamagami’s childhood playing on the Tone river bank with a radio-controlled glider his grandfather made
I also experienced a real glider. It was smooth and clean, yet responsive and dynamic. The blue sky and white clouds from my childhood memories, and the excitement of flying a glider in the big blue sky, all came flooding back. A glider is an intelligent form of mobility that can fly endlessly through with nature as its ally, and it also symbolizes the limitless potential of humanity. This led to the grand concept of “Unlimited Glide.” The striking white and blue colors perfectly suited the Prelude as a new vision of a sports car.
I later shared this experience with the development team, and around 30 members voluntarily participated in an in-house glider event. By sharing and empathizing with the grand concept through real-life experience, the development team was able to smoothly align their goals for performance across all areas.
Development team members experience gliding at Sekiyado Gliding Field in December 2023
What are some of the key features or aspects the team focused on to realize the “desire to go anywhere” and “excitement of the extraordinary” in the new Prelude?
The all-new Prelude is designed to feel comfortable to drive in everyday life, so evolving Honda's smooth and clean hybrid system was a must. We wanted to achieve both intelligence and the excitement of an extraordinary experience, like performing acrobatics in a glider. To achieve this, we introduced the Honda S+ Shift*3, which maximizes the strengths of Honda’s engine, and gave the Prelude a specially tuned chassis based on the high-performance Civic Type R. This combination delivers an exhilarating yet comfortable driving experience. The ability to seamlessly transition between daily life and excitement is a major feature of the new Prelude.
*3 Honda’s unique hybrid system that combines the exceptional fuel economy of a high-efficiency two-motor hybrid system with the premium, exhilarating performance of a high-output motor. This system further enhances the sense of unity between driver and vehicle, pursuing the “Joy of Driving.”
Prelude Aims to Provide “Special Moments” Regardless of Age or Country
The new Prelude is targeted not only for the Japanese market but also being considered for launching in various countries. What target market was considered during development?
We aimed to provide “universal excitement and emotion to people in many countries,” so we did not differentiate specifications or performance by country, nor did we conduct market research. We did not implement development or design targeted at a specific market.
We also believed that if we could realize the grand concept, it would transcend generations, so we did not narrow down the target demographic. For example, Generation X (1960s–1970s) parents commonly ask their Generation Z (mid-1990s to early 2010s) children what they thought of their outfit, or share clothes and hobbies with their children. We took on the challenge to develop and design a car that would resonate across countries and generations.
New Prelude logo on the rear
What experiences or emotions would you like to deliver to customers through the all-new Prelude?
The all-new Prelude is a sports car, a specialty car, and a “dating car” that the previous Prelude was known for. We hope that couples, families, and friends can enjoy special “date” moments together, whether it is a drive or a trip down memory lane. We hope that for those who’ve loved the Prelude over the years, driving it alone will feel like reconnecting with the person they were all those years ago—almost like going on a date with their younger self.
We would be thrilled if the new Prelude inspires more people to discover the wonderful products and services Honda has to offer. I am more excited about the new Prelude than anyone else. During development, team members commented that I seemed to be having the most fun. We worked hard to develop the new Prelude with the aim of bringing joy to our customers. So, if I happened to spot the new Prelude on the street, I think I’d find myself wondering “what kind of person is driving, and what kind of expression they have while driving. Just imagining this makes me feel happy.
Actually, the project did not start as a “Prelude revival.” The original goal was to develop a new hybrid sports car for the electric vehicle (EV) era.
First, we considered what a sports car should be like in the coming era, considering customer profiles, value propositions, design, and dynamics. We revisited Honda’s history and car lineup. That is when we recalled the Prelude, a model that has been in people’s hearts through generations, and consistently pioneered new eras.
In this age, hybrid sports cars are not very common. The goal of this sports car development project was to uncover the latent demand for “the ideal sports car” while creating a model that would pioneer a new era. We felt that the name Prelude was fitting for this model. Additionally, we felt a strong affinity between the challenges of this sports car development and the Prelude’s commitment to incorporating cutting-edge technology, which led to the decision to develop the 6th-generation Prelude.