Honda Prelude Concept

[05XR8]

I see the Mustang and 2-Series are selling well. Not sure about Mercedes-Benz, but for a small market, coupes are selling. On another note, Hyundai(add KIA and Genesis) have shown what is possible in the more affordable four door sedan class. If Hyundai were to bring the 74 model(or some type of sporting coupes) to market(even though the Veloster is gone), I think that would be a good spark for the industry.

The Prelude is around because coupes do sell. Honda making it low volume may add to the interest of other manufacturers bringing coupes back. Yeah, it’s expensive, but older sporting coupes are either trashed or not justifiable to buy and restore, as I’ll point out in reference to the comment Keef made about actual people extreme customising new cars. Regular consumers won’t go through the trouble of fixing up/restoring/customising an older coupe. So, having another option such as the Prelude does help the market. Maybe.

 

[05XR8]

 

[Keef]

I watched a couple of the reviews this morning and it seems pretty universal that the car just isn’t a very well considered idea, especially the price.

Premium products carry premium prices because they offer things that are rare and special. I don’t think this car offers anything of the sort. It looks cool, but that would be no different if it were powered by the Si’s engine which would’ve made it both cheaper and more broadly appealing.

 

[MSZ]

Just saw one a couple of hours ago:

The proportion is just awkward like all of their previous coupes post-Y2K.

Should've went with the TLX platform so they can re-create that fake RWD dash to axle ratio.

 

[EngieDiesel]

I can't help but think the side profile makes it look like a slightly stretched out '98 Eclipse.

Honestly, if the nose didn't have such an obvious overhang it'd look a lot better, from that angle at least.

 

[05XR8]

The pic of the white Prelude makes it look like a klompen.

 

[TheCracker]

It's a very cab-forward design, which is odd given that everything of use, the engine, transmission, hybrid motors, dash/bulkhead and driver and passenger seats appears to be crammed into the front 3/5ths where as the rear 2/5ths only contains tiny rear seats, a tiny boot/trunk and a pair of trolley wheels. It feels like a lot of wasted space. Coupes are usually all nose, this appears all back.

Having said that, the more non-marketing or show photos i see of it, like the white one @MSZ posted above, the more i actually like it. That slightly awkward looking cab-forward design actually makes it stand out.

 

[Keef]

It's a very cab-forward design, which is odd given that everything of use, the engine, transmission, hybrid motors, dash/bulkhead and driver and passenger seats appears to be crammed into the front 3/5ths where as the rear 2/5ths only contains tiny rear seats, a tiny boot/trunk and a pair of trolley wheels. It feels like a lot of wasted space. Coupes are usually all nose, this appears all back.

Having said that, the more non-marketing or show photos i see of it, like the white one @MSZ posted above, the more i actually like it. That slightly awkward looking cab-forward design actually makes it stand out.

It's a ton of wasted space. They've shifted the fast*back* to the fast*middle* so far that it's a hatch that still has a trunk deck. Conversely the Mustang is an actual fastback but with a trunklid instead of a hatch.

It's also got more nicely appointed and sculpted rear seats (not necessarily more useable):

But the Mustang is 11 inches longer than the Civic so it's not a fair comparison, and certainly isn't an efficient use of space in itself, although its traditional 2+2 fastback cabin isn't any worse than the Prelude's in my opinion, especially since the Prelude is based on a sedan chassis. Here's the previous Civic Coupe rear seat:

Clearly also not designed for luxury but it does have cupholders, three seatbelts, etc. I think Honda made their decision knowing that the rear seat is less important, however because the car is a hatch they did it in a way that stands out like a sore thumb. Frankly I'd rather see a storange solution back there like you could get in the second-gen CRX:

Honda used to be a real company.

 

[05XR8]

So weird. In pursuit of alternative fuels, it’s like they lost their way in what to make. A company that participates in motorsport and only one car they build reflects that. Motorcycles sure, but nothing exciting on the car menu( above kei cars), like they used to have.