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A lot has changed in the automotive landscape over the last 25 years.
Over the last quarter century we have seen the decline of local manufacturing, the dominant rise of SUVs and crew cabs, the introduction of electric vehicles, the arrival of new Chinese brands and the dawn of self-driving cars.
It’s been a turbulent start to the new automotive millennium, and there are no signposts to give us a clear direction.
But as much as things are changing, as our roads become more congested and suburban runabouts become homogenous boxes with big screens, there is still a section of owners who enjoy driving something special.
The purity of a sports car is, at its core, a selfish machine designed primarily for driving pleasure on unpaved roads or on the hectic race track.
They’re the cars we all fell in love with and hung posters of on our walls as kids, but today they’re few and far between unless you have more than six (or even seven) numbers burning a hole in your bank account.
Affordable coupes and sports cars from Japanese automakers such as Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Toyota gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s as they became more efficient and lighter alternatives to American muscle cars.
The Honda Prelude was a prime example, establishing Japan as the new epicenter of high-tech performance motorsport along with vehicles like the Nissan Z, Mazda RX-7 and Toyota Celica/Supra.
But demand for sports cars waned in the early 2000s, and after five generations, Honda dropped the Prelude from its lineup in 2001.
However, the Type R is making a comeback this year with a bold new coupe perfect for the new millennium, packing a hybrid powertrain and a quarter-century of Type R engineering beneath its sleek two-door silhouette.
So let’s take a trip down memory lane and compare the upcoming sixth generation Prelude with its most recent predecessor.
BB5 Honda Prelude: 1997-2001
Before we delve deeper into the final model, the Prelude played a crucial role in introducing new technologies for Honda over the five previous generations.
Originally introduced in 1979, it was the first Honda in Australia to feature a five-speed manual transmission.
The second-generation Prelude, launched in 1983, was the first Honda to be available with optional anti-lock braking, the third generation in 1987 introduced us to four-wheel steering, and the fourth generation in 1992 was among the first to feature Honda’s VTEC variable camshaft timing system. All significant milestones for the Japanese brand.
The fifth-generation Prelude (codename BB5) was launched in Australia in January 1997 and was available here in three model grades: the entry-level Si and the mid-range VTi-R – both with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission – and the all-manual flagship ATTS with its ground-breaking Active Torque Transfer System.
This active front differential effectively distributes up to 80 percent of engine torque to the outside front wheel when accelerating through a corner to counteract the natural tendency to understeer in front-wheel drive vehicles.
The sharp, angular style of the fifth-generation Prelude was penned by Manabu Konaka (who later led the design of the CR-V) and was an instant hit among Japanese sports car enthusiasts. It still looks relatively modern today.
Under the hood, the Si was powered by a naturally aspirated 2.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (codenamed F22Z6) which produced 118kW of power at 6000rpm and 201Nm of torque at 5000rpm.
Both the VTi-R and ATTS featured an improved version of the 2.2-litre engine with VTEC cylinder heads (H22A4), increasing their peak power to 143kW at 7000rpm and 212Nm at 5250rpm. Weighing just 1,305 kg, it was able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in eight seconds.
All models were equipped with electric windows, driver and passenger airbags and anti-lock braking systems. Aside from the ATTS system, the range-topping car featured four-wheel steering, a six-speaker AM/FM cassette player and 16-inch alloy wheels. There wasn’t even a navigation system back then!
Prices at launch started at $39,550 plus on-road costs for the base manual Si, rising to $48,850 plus on-road costs for the flagship ATTS.
When it was finally discontinued, the flagship Prelude cost $50,209, which is about $95,000 today taking inflation into account.
BF1 Honda Prelude: 2026
The all-new sixth-generation Honda Prelude is set to arrive in Australian showrooms later this year, closing a 25-year gap for the iconic nameplate.
It continues the legacy of its predecessors as a two-door, front-wheel-drive sports coupe, but this is where all the similarities begin and end.
The 2026 Honda Prelude is the first of its kind with a hatchback body, no manual transmission option and a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain.
It shares many of its basic mechanical and structural underpinnings with the latest 11th generation Civic, but is slightly smaller in all dimensions and has a shorter wheelbase (2605mm versus 2735mm).
Under the hood, it combines a lean-burning 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with a unique version of Honda’s e-CVT automatic transmission, which features two electric motors that combine to produce maximum power of 147kW and 315Nm.
The continuously variable transmission features a new driving mode developed specifically for the Prelude called S+ Shift, which simulates gear ratios and even briefly shifts the throttle when downshifting for a more responsive driving character.
The chassis includes a front end that utilizes learnings and components from the Civic Type R, including adaptive dampers, dual-axle suspension and Brembo brakes in 19-inch alloy wheels.
The Prelude is offered in a single model level priced at $65,000 drive-away and comes with a generous list of standard equipment.
These include leather-trimmed sports seats, dual digital displays, wireless smartphone mirroring and Google Built-In software, as well as the latest advanced safety systems and autonomous driver assistance systems.
MORE: Explore the Honda Prelude showroom
