Alongside the Honda e:N2 at the ongoing Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS) is the all-new Prelude, which is currently being previewed at the event. Reborn with a hybrid powertrain, the two-door coupe has already gone on sale in major markets like the United States and Japan, with Malaysia expected to join the list.
The hybrid system in the Prelude is similar to the one found in the Civic e:HEV and features Honda’s Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain. This is based around a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine running on the Atkinson cycle rated at 141 PS (139 hp or 104 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 182 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm.
The LFC-H4 engine works with an electric motor to act as a generator for a battery, which is then used to power a front traction motor with 184 PS (181 hp or 135 kW) and 315 Nm. When needed, the engine can also be clutched in to directly drive the wheels, with the total system output being 203 PS (200 hp or 149 kW).
Crystal Black Pearl is the paint finish applied to the exterior of this display car, which retains a lot of the design cues seen on the concept that previewed it way back in October 2023. Meanwhile, the interior adopts a blue and white theme, with the general layout being similar to the Civic – the Prelude’s bones are based on that car – albeit with some differences like the flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel with a 12 o’clock marker as well as hexagonal air vents sans full-width mesh.
Elsewhere, the reworked centre console is home to a push-button gear selector instead of a gear lever, and this is flanked by a switch for the electronic parking brake as well as the drive mode selector (Comfort, GT, Sport and Individual). This space is also where you’ll find the large S+ Shift button, which is Honda’s system that emulates a virtual eight-speed transmission and enables the driver to “change gears” using paddles on the steering wheel.
For now, it is not confirmed if the Prelude will be sold in Thailand. If it does get launched there, expect it to cost quite a bit. In Indonesia where the Prelude was the first to go on sale in Southeast Asia, the approximate price was nearly one billion rupiah (about RM234k) – still less than the Civic Type R there.
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Ah Beng Temple of Vtec wet dream !!! This car will make all the hot lians wild. Take my money.
this car does not have vtec.
Honda are just built to impress you (it’s hideous) on the showroom floor. No sauce behind that facade, no driving pleasure, no heritage, no proper human engineering. Pure marketing stunt. I’d rather buy a properly made car at the same price, even more, with less power. Buy a car with a soul, not a glorified iPad on wheels. 170K buy a used 2019 Audi A4..