Historiography: The Legend of The Honda Prelude

Honda has brought back the Prelude. There was some rejoicing, but with some tempered caution. It is not the Prelude we used to know and love – an upscale, fun-to-drive, two-plus-two coupe that was the halo product for the brand. Then again, we have not driven one to make any sort of judgement on the new generation model. 

Why is there such a fuss about the Prelude? 

We must look back in order to move forward.

This is one history I know very well. Not that I owned one. I have driven a first-generation model briefly, which I can speak with some authority. Then again, I can attest to the impact the Honda Prelude had for the time and its run through the first five generations. 

To define what the Honda Prelude meant to its owners, you have to understand how it came about. 

The OPEC Oil Crisis of 1973 did a complete number on the global automotive industry. Our common choice of vehicle has forced us to find ways to save money on fuel, maintenance, and the overall cost of ownership. In the USA, Japanese automakers have not only grown exponentially, but they have seen as the solution towards getting people into more affordable and efficient vehicles. 

Sales for Toyota and Datsun (er, Nissan) were climbing nationwide in the mid-1970s. Even in the face of chauvinism from those who defend the American automotive industry. New brands had taken flight, as well – including Honda. 

Honda arrived in the USA in the 1950s as an importer of motorcycles. By 1970, they began to offer a line of very small automobiles – the N600 and Z600. They would serve as an entry point for their breakthrough model – the 1973 Civic. With the innovative CVCC engine, the Civic found an audience as a counterpoint that what was offered to American consumers in the middle of the oil crisis. 

By 1976, Honda added a companion vehicle to the Civic – the Accord. While using the same CVCC engine technology, the two-door hatchback coupe was larger and more accommodating than the smaller subcompact car. Although, Honda would add a wagon to the Civic lineup for those looking for more practicality and utility. 

Meanwhile, Honda was working on a luxury sport coupe that would augment their two core offerings. It would be powered by the CVCC engine, yet in a much more concentrated package. The styling would follow some brand signatures, but the new car would feature more amenities as found on the Civic and Accord. 

When the first-generation Prelude arrived in 1979, the interest in this small luxury sport coupe was high. It featured a plusher interior than in the Accord and a glass moonroof – a feature rarely seen on Japanese automobiles at that time. 

It did have its drawbacks. The interior space was miniscule. While marketed as a 2+2, the Prelude’s rear seat was almost useless…as experienced by a person who sat in the back of one owned by a fellow schoolmate.

At first, the Prelude had a very interesting instrument cluster. It was an analog set-up with layered dials. It was quite confusing – even to Civic and Accord owners. They’re used to clear, separate dials with the requisite gauges and warning lights. The early Preludes looked like a hot mess behind the wheel, but that was all resolved with the 1981 mid-cycle refresh. The speedometer and tachometer are on separate dials on each end of the cluster, with the gauges and warning lights placed logically. They even gave the front grille a more upscale look.

After four years in the marketplace, the Prelude made such an impression as a sporty addition to a growing lineup. Its distinction from the Civic and Accord invited enthusiasts and others that like to stand out in a crowd the permission to enjoy this concentrated little coupe. 

Then came 1983. The second-generation Prelude both followed the design language of the decade and broke the mold. It became larger, but it also retained a lot of what attracted customers to the first-generation model. The sharpened angles, larger glass area, and lower dashboard cowl set the tone for upcoming Honda models. 

Being a design maker was something Honda celebrated. Not just because of its pop-up headlamps and sleeker and angled profile. Rather the invitation for enthusiasts to step up to a Prelude. 

Engine sizes increased to 1.8-liters in North America, as well as the changeover to a four-speed fully automatic transmission – a step away from the two-speed Hondamatic of the first-generation. What really set the second-generation into orbit was the more powerful 2.0-liter Si model in 1985. This brought an air of performance to the sleek and angular Prelude. Even though it only put out 110 horsepower, which was considered pretty decent back in the mid-1980s. 

The Prelude’s popularity and allure gave it a larger stage even though Honda was seeing the growth of its other three models – including the Civic-based two-seat CRX. That prompted Honda to continue to push the possibilities of their luxury sports coupe. 

The year 1988 heralded the arrival of a third-generation Prelude. It took on an evolutionary design trajectory, with several brand design cues that kept it in the public eye. It featured a much lower front-end area and a somewhat lower profile, while retaining its other dimensions inside and out. Some have said that this third-generation Prelude influenced the design of the Acura NSX and the second-generation Integra. 

The exterior design resulted in a class-leading 0.34 drag coefficient. This was a remarkable achievement for the decade. This Prelude also introduced the world to four-wheel steering. That alone may have been seen as a gimmick, but it is also influential on future vehicles towards creating tighter turning radiuses when needed. 

The third-generation Prelude received the option of fuel injection for their base 2.0-liter engine through its PGM-FI system. A larger 2.1-liter engine was available in North America for the Si model. By 1990, the Prelude would be offered without a carburetor. It was all fuel injection going forward.

As everyone through that the Prelude would never change from its boxy-ish three-box format, we were in for a major surprise in 1992. Honda shook up the look of their sports coupe by creating a fastback-like profile, removing the pop-up headlights, and reinstating its grille openings. This changed the way enthusiasts and customers viewed the Prelude. 

What made the fourth-generation Prelude compelling was its powerplant offerings. Now at 2.2-liters, Honda introduced their VTEC variable timing system to the delight of enthusiasts and, later, tuners. 

However, a semblance of common sense brought Honda to create the fifth-generation Prelude. They figured that by returning to its three-box profile roots, they would add on some unique elements to lure back loyal customers who scratched their heads at the previous generation model. 

There was plenty to lure them in. A new Active Torque Transfer System appears on a new trim – Type SH. This introduced Honda owners to the Super Handling system that Acura touts on some of their vehicles. The system simply counteracts the understeer that is commonly found on front-drive vehicles. By this time, standard engine performance has finally reached 200 horsepower. 

By 2001, it was all over. The last Prelude was produced. Honda focused on SUVs, Accords, and Civics. Not that it was a bad thing, but the sports coupe market was slowing down. 

Then came the chatter a couple of years ago about the Prelude’s impending return. This time, they fused the excellent performance and efficiency of Honda’s hybrid driveline with the chassis of a Civic Type R. They also threw in a manual-type shift program to induce some thrills. 

This sixth-generation Honda Prelude is already a departure from its past. It is electrified – that alone might sway the enthusiast away from this reborn sports coupe icon. 

Regardless of the car people have to say, we cannot wait to drive one. Besides, at least one of us love a fun sports coupe to shag around the nearby bluffs.

Whenever you see a new-generation Prelude on the road, take a look back at its legacy. If you owned one, you definitely have a story to tell about Honda’s luxury sports coupe. 

Cover photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.