Robert Thorp, director of Honda Australia, told it Daily Sparkz He would put his hand to work on a high-performance Type R flagship version of the Japanese brand’s reborn Prelude sports car.
The Prelude name returns to Honda showrooms in 2026 after more than two decades on hold, and the Australian version will be offered in a single model grade, priced at $65,000 per car. The first local customer deliveries are expected in May.
Speaking at the Melbourne Motor Show earlier this month, Mr Thorp – who took over the reins of Honda Australia alongside Jay Joseph’s appointment as CEO 12 months ago – said the company wouldn’t say no to a Prelude Type R.
“There’s a part of me that wants to go all ‘Type R,'” Mr. Thorp said Daily Sparkz when asked whether a Prelude Type R – if introduced – would be on the brand’s shopping list. “Type R is just fun… So yeah, why not?”
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
“Our opportunities to explore global products are definitely expanding and I think a few years ago they were perhaps very limited. Maybe you had certain markets that you had a connection with – whereas now that’s definitely changing,” Mr Thorp added.
“If there is something in the world that we can make work here, we will do our best to bring it here.”
Honda has never offered a Prelude Type R before, but the badge has been applied to seven generations of the Civic hatchback, including the current model as well as the Integra sports car, NSX supercar and Accord sedan.
The new sixth-generation Prelude shares its platform with the Civic and adopts the Civic Type R’s suspension and brakes, but that’s about the extent of its performance hardware. The new coupé uses a hybrid drive for the first time.
The Prelude’s 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine is combined with two electric motors to produce a total power of 147kW and 315Nm of torque. It is offered exclusively with an electronic continuously variable automatic transmission (e-CVT); a manual transmission is not available.
A Prelude Type R could change that relatively easily.
The Civic Type R features a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 235kW and 420Nm and driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox – sharing its core features with the Prelude.
The Prelude’s $65,000 drive-away price also leaves room for a halo variant, with the Civic Type R – currently out of stock – last listed for $79,000 drive-away.
Honda Australia says the pricing reflects the Prelude’s broader appeal, with Mr Thorp noting there is no direct competitor in terms of its hybrid sports coupe specification.
A tougher, enthusiast-focused Prelude could be just what Honda needs to restore its global performance car credentials, especially as Toyota looks set to expand its Gazoo Racing (GR) production model range, topped by the all-new GR GT supercar.
Nissan has also confirmed that it is working on a new GT-R supercar and has teased a next-generation Skyline. This signals that they are aiming for a broader range of sports cars and not just a single Z model that is currently sold in Australia.
MORE: Explore the Honda Prelude showroom
