Honda Prelude confirmed to return to Australia mid-2026

Honda Australia has confirmed the iconic Prelude nameplate will return to local showrooms in mid-2026, marking a major moment for fans of the original sports coupe and an important play in the brand’s effort to reconnect with its enthusiast base.

The reborn Prelude was first teased in concept form at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, showcasing sleek proportions, coupe styling and sporting pretentions, while reviving the nameplate for the hybrid era and showcasing the latest chapter of the brand’s e:HEV powertrain technology.

At a recent media roundtable in Melbourne, Honda Australia executives confirmed to carsales that the reborn Prelude was indeed headed Down Under, bringing style, nostalgia and fun-to-drive dynamics to what’s hoped to be a broader customer base.

“We’re thrilled to add this iconic nameplate to the Honda line-up next year,” Honda Australia automotive director Robert Thorp said.

“Prelude taps into a rare combination of nostalgia and performance with broad appeal across generations of Honda customers, old and new.

“I reckon that everybody in this room would have a story about it, whether you owned one or you wanted one.

“And even now, you see one on the road, and people talk about it; an iconic nameplate that has such a rich brand heritage ... we’re bringing it back to Australia.”

The Prelude will be the halo car for Honda – alongside the Civic Type R – which needs a bit of an energy boost in Australia. In 2024 it sold just 14,092 new vehicles; a vast change compared to the last time the Prelude was on sale locally.

When asked who the Prelude is expected to appeal to, Thorp nominated the usual car-loving enthusiasts as well as a new wave of customers.

“To be honest, older males who used to own them back in the 90s, [could be] buying them again, but you can see it opening up to a female audience as well because of the way it looks and drives and handles, which we’ve heard about [internally],” he said.

“Maybe they owned one back in the 90s, or had a used one, because that’s what they bought during uni and in the 2000s. But this might be something that brings them back.”

From a heritage perspective, the Honda Prelude has always been a forward-looking car.

Across its five generations from 1978 to 2001, the model was a showcase of Honda’s innovation, introducing features such as the first electric sunroof in a Japanese car, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), and the world’s first four-wheel steering system (4WS).

While local pricing and specs will be revealed closer to its mid-2026 launch, Honda says the Prelude will be competitively positioned against key rivals, offering buyers a fresh alternative in a largely underserved segment.

“We think we’ll be able to bring a great value package to market,” Thorp said.

“We're very confident that that this will be a model that will attract a lot of interest.”

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au