The vehicle that caught everyone’s attention at the Japan Mobility Show held in October
None other than the Honda Prelude concept car
In October, the 2023 Japan Mobility Show took place in Japan. Major global automakers showcased their visions at this event. Among them, one car captured everyone’s attention. This vehicle was a concept car from Honda, a leading Japanese automaker well-known to domestic consumers for models such as Civic, Accord, and CR-V.
Concept cars are typically unveiled at events like the Mobility Show, and the 2023 Japan Mobility Show was no exception. However, what made the Honda concept car stand out and attract everyone’s attention? It was due to the name of the concept car. The concept car model that Honda unveiled that day was called the Prelude.
The Prelude, a sports coupe that made history with each generation, first appeared in 1978
The Honda concept car attracted attention with the single model name Prelude. To fully understand this, it is necessary to understand the background of Honda’s Prelude and how it was evaluated. The history of the Prelude began as a front-wheel-drive sports coupe that Honda developed and produced in 1978.
This vehicle was equipped with advanced technologies, such as a rear-wheel steering system and e-LSD. It provided a superior driving experience compared to any other sports coupe, and what was remarkable was that it maintained the highest level of body quality through four generations of changes until 2001.
Despite its considerable popularity overseas, the Prelude met its end with the burst of the bubble economy
The popularity of the Prelude wasn’t just limited to the domestic market in Japan; it also reached its peak in overseas markets. For the first-generation model, the sales volume in foreign markets accounted for 80% of the total production volume. The Prelude incorporated innovative technology with each generation and was one of Honda’s flagship models. However, with the collapse of Japan’s bubble economy, demand for coupe vehicles began to decline, and eventually, the Prelude was discontinued after the fifth-generation model.
Thus, the Prelude ended as a legendary car known only to those who knew it. Or so it seemed until Honda re-registered the Prelude trademark this year. In September, automotive specialist foreign media outlets reported that Honda had registered the Prelude trademark in the North American market. This news ignited the hearts of car enthusiasts worldwide. It was nothing short of a signal for the resurrection of the Prelude, which had seemingly lost its pulse.
The Prelude, which fired a signal for resurrection, will return with a HEV heart
This was revealed at the recent Japan Mobility Show with the unveiling of the Prelude concept car. Honda has perfectly encapsulated the value that the Prelude held in the past. The concept car aims to foster interaction between the generation that remembers the Prelude and the generation encountering it for the first time. With the full-fledged resurrection of the long-rumored Prelude becoming a reality right before our eyes, how could interest in this vehicle not be intense?
The new Prelude that Honda is preparing will be equipped with a HEV powertrain. Not just any current HEV powertrain, but a next-generation HEV powertrain that is considered the final step. The size of the body has been increased to match the current market trends, and its design has been smoothly refined. Some critics have praised the vehicle’s completion, calling it the “rebirth of the perfect 2-door sports coupe we’ve always dreamed of”.
Honda’s General Manager Yamagami said of the concept car, “Like the original Prelude, we aim for a global launch.” “Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe wants this vehicle to be launched around the mid to late 2020s,” he added. With everyone’s expectations resting on it, what form will the next-generation Honda Prelude take when it resurrects before us?
By. Seo Yunji
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