Automotive
Honda has finally answered the query that diehard fans have been asking for the reason that Prelude’s comeback was confirmed. There is no such thing as a manual gearbox on the table. Not now, not later, and never as a surprise special. The choice comes straight from Honda leadership, who told Australia’s Drive that the brand new hybrid powertrain architecture is solely not compatible with a clutch pedal. Road & Track echoed the identical message from Honda’s Tokyo show stand, framing it as a technical call as much as a market reality.
When you are catching up, the reborn Prelude pairs a 2.0 liter Atkinson cycle 4 with a two motor hybrid system that may drive the wheels directly through Honda’s eCVT layout. As a substitute of a traditional transmission it uses S+ Shift, a software defined feature that simulates stepped gears, complete with paddle inputs, rev matching blips and a pause in acceleration to mimic an actual upshift. Honda has even published a tech explainer outlining how S+ Shift repurposes the paddles from regen control to virtual gear changes, and MotorTrend recently broke down how the system tries to bring among the tactile rhythm drivers expect from a sporty coupe.
Here is where it gets complicated for those of us who grew up loving Hondas because they made bizarre roads feel special. Around our office and amongst many readers in our generation, CVTs have never earned much affection. We appreciate the Prelude’s balanced chassis and the Civic Type R hardware it borrows, and we like how S+ Shift adds a little bit of flair on a back road. But there isn’t a getting across the undeniable fact that simulating gears will not be the identical as rowing your personal. The Prelude might still be a terrific drive, yet the absence of a correct stick keeps it from clearing that last emotional hurdle for a number of enthusiasts.
Honda’s product planners would argue they’re meeting drivers where they’re today, not where they were in 1999. Drive reports that the split of propulsion between engine and electric motor is roughly half and half, which makes a manual integration way more complex than the old Insight or CR Z setups where the engine was the predominant event and the e motor only assisted. The Drive also notes that Honda understands the need for engagement, which is why S+ Shift and paddles exist in any respect. Autoweek has positioned the Prelude as a hybrid grand tourer with real chassis substance, and that could be the correct lens for those who are usually not fixated on a clutch pedal.
So where does that leave us. The Prelude looks sharp, guarantees real-world pace and efficiency, and must be a friendly every day with a fun side. For a lot of buyers, that may be a sweet spot. For the loyalists who still heel and toe their strategy to work, it’s a near miss. We’ll keep hoping for a spicier variant someday, but for now the message is evident. The Prelude is automatic only, with S+ Shift doing its best impression of the experience so lots of us still crave.
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Darryl Taylor Dowe is a seasoned automotive skilled with a proven track record of leading successful ventures and providing strategic consultation across the automotive industry. With years of hands-on experience in each business operations and market development, Darryl has played a key role in helping automotive brands grow and adapt in a rapidly evolving landscape. His insight and leadership have earned him recognition as a trusted expert, and his contributions to Automotive Addicts reflect his deep knowledge and keenness for the business side of the automobile world.
This Article First Appeared At www.automotiveaddicts.com
