New Honda Prelude Coupe spy photos exposed, after all, there will be no manual

Honda’s revival of the Prelude has officially begun, with the first prototypes appearing on public roads just a year after the concept was launched in Japan. Our photographers captured a camouflaged tester of the electric two-door coupe driving around the German countryside, proving development is well underway.

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Before we dive into the latest spy photos, let’s discuss the not-so-good news. A recent report suggested that the Honda Prelude will be exclusively available with a CVT, despite earlier speculation that the hybrid model could include a manual gearbox, similar to the now-discontinued CR-Z.

More: Honda Civic RS debuts in Japan with sharper chassis, manual gearbox

Our colleagues at MotorTrend recently spoke with Honda Global Executive Vice President Shinji Aoyama, who stated that a manual transmission will not be offered. Instead, the Prelude will use the updated Honda Civic’s powertrain setup, which includes a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with twin electric motors and a CVT. It’s unclear whether the Prelude will use a sporty chassis similar to Japan’s Civic RS.

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Now back to the scoop, the prototype is wrapped in pixelated camouflage, leaving only the windows, wheels, and lighting fixtures partially exposed. Following the white prototype shown at the Japan Mobility Show in October 2023 and the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2023, the production version will look almost identical to the latest (red) concept car that debuted in Europe in July 2024.

So, what’s the difference from concept?

Close inspection reveals some notable changes from the original version. The most obvious changes are the thicker door mirrors borrowed from the Honda Civic, and the ADAS sensors integrated into the front windshield.

At the rear, the prototype doesn’t have the spoiler found on the concept, although one is available on the Honda Access. The rear fascia has also been cleverly redesigned to accommodate the license plate. Finally, the camouflage covering the middle of the taillights has us guessing whether Honda will retain the full-width LED treatment from the concept.

The production version of the Honda Prelude is expected to debut in 2025. The hybrid coupe is confirmed for Europe and is expected to arrive in North America, likely as a 2026 model.

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