"Exhilaration and Tension" that only PRELUDE can offer
Becoming the creator of a car that colored his life with memories
──"PRELUDE is a car that changed my life," says Uchino, reflecting his memories as the owner of the fourth-generation PRELUDE (released in 1991).
Uchino
In the 1980s and 90s, PRELUDE was popular for its stylish design and luxurious interior, becoming synonymous with the ideal date car. When I was driving a PRELUDE, a woman from the same tennis school said to me, “That’s a cool car,” and we started dating and eventually got married (laughs). To me, the PRELUDE is not just a beloved car, it is a meaningful vehicle that brought me into my life partner.
──During his job interview, Uchino expressed his passion for the PRELUDE to Masato Nakano, a Senior Chief Engineer who was involved in the development of previous PRELUDE series, and was accepted to the company. The PRELUDE has always been by his side at the turning points of his life. After joining Honda, he worked on the exteriors of sports cars like the CIVIC, NSX, and INTEGRA for over 30 years. And now, with the new PRELUDE, he was appointed to lead the entire full model change for the first time.
Uchino
For me, the TV commercial featuring the third-generation PRELUDE standing against the backdrop of a European cityscape etched in my mind. The car’s presence alone created a tension that subtly spread through the scenery, evoking a strong desire to own it and a sense of exhilaration that makes everyday life special. While the new model reveals its depth once you drive it, most of all, it is an obsessive pursuit of the specific tension that only the PRELUDE possesses.
──The exhilaration and tension that can only be found in a specialty car. To deeply explore this emotional value and pass it on to the next generation, the team held sketch competitions* from the early stages of development, and Uchino even purchased a used third-generation PRELUDE himself and drove it with key members ,experiencing it in various ways, sharing the vision of what a specialty car should be. In this process, with Gen Z members involved, they were reminded of the time that has passed since production of the previous PRELUDE model ended about 25 years ago, and how needs have changed.
* Sketch competition: An event where multiple designers intensely create numerous idea sketches and exchange opinions to improve design.
"UNLIMITED GLIDE" represents infinite possibilities
“Experience Just for the Two,”
discovered in search of brilliance
Uchino
With the spread of high-performance PCs and smartphones and the digitization of all experiences, it is now possible to make everyday life sparkle without having a car.
So, we asked, "What is the next sparkle?"
Uchino
We felt it was time to go back to the physical and pursue “exclusive experience between the two people” that can only be created by riding the PRELUDE. Having someone special in a car that is important to you. Through the physical act of driving, emotions connect, and everyday life shines with brilliance. Just like the PRELUDE that captivated us 25 years ago, this new model evokes a strong desire to own it. But this time, it also explores the joy of sharing beyond ownership. From Mono to Koto (products to experiences), from ownership to resonance. I believe this depth is what defines the modern PRELUDE.
Uchino
In an era of information overload and uncertainty, people consider not just whether they want a car, but also ask themselves, “How will own this car change my future?” In response to this shift, the new PRELUDE has been designed with the grand concept of "UNLIMITED GLIDE," a worldview where owning the car feels like unlocking infinite possibilities.
Uchino
To share "UNLIMITED GLIDE" with the entire team, we actually experienced the glider. This sensation of body extension, as if becoming one with the flow of the wind, was incorporated into the driving and design aspects. While inheriting the quiet and powerful appearance without excessive decoration, we added a glider-like extension to the front and ground-kicking strength to the rear as a new challenge.
──The philosophy of “UNLIMITED GLIDE” is also reflected in the interior. By using horizontal lines and calm tones, excessive decoration is eliminated, allowing the driver to stay focused. The space is composed of refined, familiar materials, with only essential functions arranged in a clean and orderly manner, allowing the driver to immerse themselves in the act of driving, as if the interior has disappeared into the background.
Uchino
PRELUDE is not just a sports car. It not only satisfies emotional desires through its powerful engine, speed, and refined design, but also delivers rational satisfaction through ease-of-use in daily life and environmental performance, making it a “human-centered” vehicle which is quintessentially Honda.
I want people to feel the “Joy of Two Together"
PRELUDE becomes a special car for someone
──The name PRELUDE carries the meaning of "prelude" that connects people, and the past and future. It was once a cultural icon as the ultimate date car. The users of that time are now in their mid-40s to 60s, possibly with children or even grandchildren. Considering the expanded values of intimacy and dating over the past 25 years, the new PRELUDE aims to be a car that fits not only couples, but also parents and children, friends, and more.
Uchino
For example, when choosing a family car, functional aspects such as interior space and fuel efficiency are emphasized, but from now on, I hope that "excitement" and "joy of driving" will be considered, and the PRELUDE will be added to their list of options. The new PRELUDE was designed to create a special joy just by having two people together, without limiting the person in the passenger seat or the scene. I want people to feel the young mindset that resonates across generations and the thrill of encountering something good together.
──Finally, Uchino was asked, "What does PRELUDE mean to you?" In his answer, he revealed his determination to transform his vivid life guided by PRELUDE into the beginning of someone else's life, at the dawn of the era of electrification.
──Sustainable, yet beautiful, noble, and quietly passionate. That is the new PRELUDE. The unique tension pursued by the entire team brings definite strength and lingering effects to the car design, and people’s stories in the era of electrification.
Profiles
Hideaki Uchino
Automobile
Creative Director
