New Honda Prelude Expected Price 60 Lakhs* Expected Launch 2026

When you think about Honda sports cars, the Prelude is probably not the one in your mind. The Prelude was a big name in the US back in the 1980s and 1990s. In the USA, the Prelude was an affordable way to get your hands on a fun-to-drive FWD sports coupe. It never had the characteristic 6 or 8-cylinder engines that you expect from sports cars, but a simple 4-cylinder. It was known for its immaculate handling and sold in decent numbers up until its discontinuation in 2003. Honda recently revealed that they will be launching a range of cars in India. The plan involves introducing 10 new vehicles by 2030.

Honda has decided to bring back the Prelude, and this time it will be sold in India as well as a CBU unit. India will get its first taste of a Honda sports car, and here is what we know about it.

Exterior

Matched with bright colours, the Prelude looks striking. The smooth curves on the body, the bulging wheel arches and the sloping roofline give it a look of a serious sports car. You don’t find any additional aero elements, such as canards or splitters. It gets its downforce from the low ground clearance and a smooth body. You can get some additional downforce by adding a minor rear spoiler from Honda’s accessory package.

Don’t expect practicality from the Prelude. You get it as a 4-seater, but the rear seats serve no purpose whatsoever. Fold these seats, and you get a boot big enough for a 2-person road trip.

Interior

It’s all business with the cabin, which looks identical to those of other Honda cars sold in the US. You can choose from a dual-tone or a monotonous black cabin. You get accents in the exterior colour stitched into the leather across the cabin. The low stance, along with the accents, makes you realise that you are sitting inside a sporty car. The prevalence of soft-touch materials and leather inside the cabin gives it a plush feel.

It gets all the bells and whistles you get on an SUV. These features include ADAS, a 9″ infotainment screen, 10.2″ driver’s display, ADAS, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, etc. You do miss out on a sunroof, but that should be really low on your priority list when looking for a sports car.

One notable feature you will spot inside the cabin is a knob labelled S+. In all honesty, it is just a gimmick by Honda to make drivers feel more involved in the driving experience. Turn the S+ dial to manual mode, and the car will mimic a traditional ICE vehicle (powertrains discussed later), and the driver will hear the engine rev and blip like a car with DCT gearbox.

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Powertrain

The Prelude comes with one engine option – a 2.0L petrol hybrid. The petrol engine essentially acts as a generator for the 2 electric motors. The result of this configuration is 200 horsepower and 315 Nm of torque.

The reason for adding the S+ shift setup is to make up for the fact that it doesn’t have a gearbox. Because 2 electric motors drive it, it doesn’t need a gearbox. The S+ shift tries to synchronise the engine so it sounds like you are shifting a DCT transmission as you accelerate. But if you are looking for a hybrid sports car, you would be least bothered by how it sounds.

Rivals

There are no direct rivals to the Prelude in India. One could make a case for the Cyberster, but it is an EV and significantly more potent than the Prelude. The small market for sports cars in India could be why the segment is so empty. If Honda plays their cards right, it could open up an entirely new market, attracting other manufacturers to sell sports cars as well.

Expected Launch And Price

The price for the Prelude is expected to start at 60 lakh rupees (on-road, Mumbai). This price could rise to 62 lakhs, depending on the additional accessories you equip. This would make it more than 20 lakh rupees cheaper than the Cyberster and seems like a really appealing price tag.

The launch is expected for late 2026 to early 2027. The fanbase for a hybrid sports coupe is relatively small, as purists usually dislike hybrids, and the car is too expensive for the general Indian public. It is an exciting prospect from Hyundai, nonetheless.
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