The iconic Honda Prelude has made a triumphant return after 25 years, securing the prestigious ‘Best Coupe’ accolade from the Best Cars of the Year (Best COTY) judging panel at the 2025/2026 New Car World Championships. The award recognises the all-new Prelude’s striking combination of design, driving exhilaration, and cutting-edge hybrid technology.
Europe now welcomes the latest Prelude e:HEV, a model that revitalises the sports coupe segment with Honda’s renowned focus on driving enjoyment. The all-new model marries an advanced hybrid powertrain with the innovative Honda S+ Shift, simulating quick automatic gear changes to deliver a more connected and engaging experience behind the wheel.
Crafted with Passion and Precision
Tomoyuki Yamagami, chief engineer of the Prelude, reflected on the recognition:
“We thank Best Cars of the Year / The New Car World Championships for this prestigious award. What we have done with the Prelude is like creating a wonderful dish using the best ingredients you have close at hand. And then we added a bespoke topping that makes our dish special, tasty and unique in the world. Then, the more of this dish you eat, the better it tastes. That’s what we believe we’ve created here, especially with the powertrain, handling and S+ mode.”
The all-new Prelude leverages more than 25 years of Honda hybrid expertise, integrating a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a lightweight dual electric motor automatic transmission. The system produces 184PS (135kW), delivering both responsive power and refined efficiency for a truly exhilarating drive.
Engineering Brilliance with a Twist
Peter Lyon, a Japan-based Best COTY / New Car World Championships judge, highlighted the engineering ingenuity behind the new model:
“Honda may have dug deep into its extensive parts bin to create the new Prelude—borrowing the high-performance chassis, suspension, and Brembo brake packages from the Civic Type R and the 200-hp hybrid engine and CVT from the Civic e:HEV—but what it has brought to showrooms is much more than the sum of those parts. The Prelude deserves this win. The styling is fresh and eye-catching while engineers have added something quite unique to elevate driver interaction. The new Prelude takes the much-disliked CVT and not only gives it a realistic 8-speed shift pattern with paddles, but adds a bespoke S+ Shift mode that enables the car to automatically change down with a blipping function going into corners.”
Rebecca Adamson, Head of Automobile for Honda Motor Europe – UK, expressed her enthusiasm:
“We’re thrilled that the all-new Honda Prelude has won the Best Coupe accolade at the New Car World Championships 2025/2026. Driving enthusiasts from around the world have been eagerly anticipating the return of this iconic nameplate and I’m delighted that Prelude is already award-winning.”
Flexible Ordering and Accessibility
From 7th November 2025, the all-new Prelude will be available for order in the UK via Honda’s omni-channel approach—online, through a retailer, or a hybrid of both—providing customers with flexibility and convenience in their purchasing experience.
With its blend of electrified performance, engaging driving dynamics, and refreshed styling, the Honda Prelude e:HEV signals not just a return, but a reinvention of an automotive legend. For those seeking the thrill of a sports coupe with the efficiency of hybrid technology, the Prelude is back—and it’s better than ever.
