The 2026 Honda Prelude Earns Recognition as North American Car of the Year Finalist

The automotive world took notice when the 2026 Honda Prelude was named a finalist for the prestigious North American Car of the Year award. This recognition celebrates the return of an iconic nameplate reimagined for a new generation of drivers who value both performance and efficiency.

The announcement came during the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2025, where a jury of 50 professional automotive journalists from across Canada and the United States selected the Prelude among the year's strongest new vehicles. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Detroit on January 14, 2026, continuing a tradition that has honoured automotive excellence since 1994.

A Legacy Reimagined for Modern Drivers

The 6th-generation Prelude marks an evolution for Honda's storied sports coupe. Rather than simply reviving a beloved name, Honda engineered a vehicle that bridges past and future by pairing advanced hybrid technology with the performance hardware that made the Civic Type R legendary.

This approach creates something genuinely new in the market - a hybrid-electric sports coupe that delivers 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque while achieving fuel economy ratings of 5.0 L/100 km city, 5.7 L/100 km highway, and 5.4 L/100 km combined. The Prelude shares its powertrain with the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid, which won North American Car of the Year honours just one year earlier.

The recognition reflects Honda's broader electrification strategy. Hybrid models now account for over 40% of Honda sales across Canada, with plans to expand that share beyond 60% in coming years. The Prelude joins the CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and Civic Hybrid in a growing lineup that proves efficiency and driving enjoyment can coexist.

Performance Hardware and Hybrid Efficiency

What sets the Prelude apart is its unique combination of components. The sports coupe is the first Honda hybrid to incorporate chassis hardware from the Civic Type R, including the dual-axis strut front suspension, wide front and rear tracks, and substantial Brembo four-piston aluminum front brake calipers finished in Prelude-specific blue.

The two-motor hybrid system operates without a traditional transmission or CVT. Instead, drive force from the traction motor transfers directly to the wheels through a fixed ratio, while engine power flows through a lock-up clutch. This direct-drive architecture delivers smooth, predictable acceleration from the electric motor, matched with efficient low-rpm highway cruising when the 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle direct injection gasoline engine engages.

Key Powertrain & Chassis Specifications:

• Combined system output: 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque
• Fuel economy: 5.0 L/100 km city / 5.7 L/100 km highway / 5.4 L/100 km combined
• Front brakes: 13.8-inch diameter two-piece rotors with Brembo four-piston calipers
• Rear brakes: 12.0-inch diameter rotors
• Wheels: 19-inch Berlina Black alloy wheels with 235/40R19 all-season tires

Introducing Honda S+ Shift Technology

The Prelude debuts Honda S+ Shift, an innovative drive mode that simulates a performance transmission experience for enhanced driver engagement. By precisely managing engine RPM and integrating paddle shifters, S+ Shift delivers quick simulated gearshift responses through coordination between the engine and high-power drive motor.

The system includes downshift blips, rev matching, gear holding, and enhanced engine sounds to increase driver connection with the vehicle. Honda plans to feature S+ Shift on future hybrid-electric models, making the Prelude the first to showcase this technology.

Drivers can select from four driving modes - Comfort, GT, Sport, and Individual - each with pre-set performance settings that control powertrain response, steering assist level, suspension damping, engine sound, gauge cluster layout, and adaptive cruise control responses. The standard Adaptive Damper System, uniquely tuned for Prelude and shared with the Civic Type R, adjusts damping characteristics in each drive mode to optimize ride and handling balance.

Grand Touring Design Philosophy

The Prelude's exterior styling reflects its grand touring mission. Advanced aerodynamics give the coupe a sophisticated yet muscular appearance with a low, sharp nose, wide stance, and smooth silhouette featuring clean, dynamic surfaces. A large front under spoiler and flat surface across the rear edge of the liftgate provide optimal balance of front and rear downforce at higher speeds.

Distinctive design elements include aggressive proportions, a racy double-bubble roof, and flared fenders covering the 19-inch wheels. Unique wing-like daytime running lights and full-width double horizontal taillights emphasize the coupe's width. Blue accents at the lower centre of the front and rear fascias highlight the low, sporty stance while matching the blue finish on the Brembo brake calipers.

The cabin focuses on driver engagement with an immersive cockpit featuring a low cowl and thin A-pillars for improved forward visibility. Ultra-premium front sport seats feature soft-touch leather, racing-inspired integrated head restraints, and asymmetrical bolstering that balances driver support with passenger comfort. The heated front seats include high-contrast blue stitching, a perforated houndstooth pattern, and the Prelude logo embossed in the head restraints.

Technology and Safety Integration

The Prelude's 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster provides clean, easy-to-read graphics with extensive display options, including a large tachometer and multi-information display. The 9-inch HD touchscreen features Google built-in, including Google Assistant, Google Maps, and access to Google Play for a connected driving experience. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility come standard, along with WiFi hotspot capability and a wireless phone charger.

The 8-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium sound system was jointly engineered by Honda and Bose specifically for the 6th-generation Prelude's interior. Door-mounted Super65 wide-range speakers play lower and louder than conventional 165 mm speakers, creating a clear sound profile complemented by a large subwoofer in the cargo area.

Standard Technology Features:

• 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• 9-inch HD touchscreen with Google built-in
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• WiFi hotspot capability
• Wireless phone charger
• 8-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium sound system
• Leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel with alloy shift paddles

Safety technology includes the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard equipment. The system features Collision Mitigation Braking System with Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation incorporating Lane Departure Warning, Driver Attention Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Blind Spot Information System, Auto High-Beam Headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition System, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Keeping Assist System.

The Prelude also includes Honda's Post-Collision Braking system to help mitigate damage from multi-crash collisions, plus the latest version of Honda's proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering front body structure. Next-generation airbag technology designed to cradle the head offers enhanced front passenger head protection, complemented by front knee airbags and rear side airbags - all standard.

A Strong Track Record of Recognition

Honda's success at the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards reflects consistent engineering excellence. A Honda model has received recognition five times in the past 10 years: the Honda Civic in 2016 and 2022, Honda Ridgeline in 2017, Honda Accord in 2018, and Honda Civic Hybrid in 2025.

The awards honour excellence in innovation, design, safety features, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, and value. The independent jury of automotive journalists evaluates vehicles based on these criteria, making finalist status a meaningful validation of a vehicle's overall merit.

The Prelude's nomination alongside its Civic Hybrid sibling demonstrates Honda's ability to apply its hybrid technology across different vehicle formats while maintaining distinct character and purpose. Where the Civic Hybrid prioritizes everyday practicality, the Prelude emphasizes grand touring capability with sportier styling, enhanced chassis tuning, and design elements that celebrate driving engagement.

Experience the Prelude at Lallier Honda Hull

The 2026 Honda Prelude charts Honda's direction for performance vehicles in an electrified future - pairing the emotional appeal of a sports coupe with the efficiency and refinement of advanced hybrid technology. Its recognition as a North American Car of the Year finalist validates this approach and positions the Prelude as a strong choice for drivers across Quebec who value both performance and responsibility.

Visit our team at Lallier Honda Hull to explore the 2026 Honda Prelude and see how this award-nominated sports coupe delivers an engaging grand touring experience.