Honda Prelude History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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Model history available. Detailed year guides are not published for this model.
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The Prelude was Honda's upscale sport coupe across five generations from 1979, often debuting Honda's newest technology.
The third generation (1988) offered the world's first mechanical four-wheel steering in a mass-production car; later Preludes brought VTEC and the Type SH's torque-vectoring 'ATTS'.
After the original ended in 2001, Honda revived the Prelude name as a hybrid coupe for the mid-2020s.
Generations
First generation
The original Prelude sport coupe.
Second generation
Pop-up-headlight Prelude; a popular sporty coupe.
1984 Photo: “1984 Honda Prelude EX coupe (18235608554)” by Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Third generation
Introduced mechanical four-wheel steering — a world first for a mass-production car.
1991 Photo: “1991 Honda Prelude Si States” by TTTNIS / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Fourth generation
Wider, more aggressive Prelude with VTEC engines.
Fifth generation
Final original Prelude, including the torque-vectoring Type SH.
Body styles
- Coupe
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