Honda shocked everybody at this LA Auto Present by exhibiting up with the thinly veiled Prelude hybrid idea for the primary time in the USA. And though nothing concerning the automobile’s modified because it confirmed up on the Japan Mobility Present, a chat with a PR consultant— coupled with social media reactions to posts of the Prelude—reveals that these nostalgic names actually, actually resonate with the general public. They resonate a lot, that it’s solely a matter of time earlier than Honda formally confirms the Prelude for manufacturing. Does Honda have extra old-school names in retailer for us because it beefs up its hybrids and electrical automobiles? One can solely hope.
“Proper now, we’re simply determining what markets the (Prelude) could possibly be bought in, and the place it could possibly be made,” stated Honda spokesperson Chris Martin. “Because the Civic Coupe’s discontinuation, we see the Prelude filling loads of segments in lots of locations.”
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That’s very fascinating to say, although I’ll admit that perhaps I’ve been just a little cynical concerning the new Prelude Idea. As fairly as it’s, it to me, seems like a refreshed model of the previous Civic Coupe. It is not a nasty factor, however the Civic Coupe died partly due to low gross sales. And but, a pleasing restyling and acquainted title has renewed curiosity in a once-unpopular physique model. Why? Is it nostalgia? It could possibly be, based on Martin.
“Individuals ask us on a regular basis if we’re going to carry again a few of these nameplates; Factor, Integra, Prelude….and so they’re robust nameplates, so why not?” Acura did it with the transition from ILX to “Integra,” and it’s turn out to be one in all Acura’s strongest-selling fashions, he stated. Nobody favored the ILX, however everybody loves the Integra, even when there’s not a ton of daylight between the 2; each had been powered-up good variations of the Honda Civic.
Likewise, the Civic Coupe might have flopped, however given the robust reception to the Prelude, perhaps we may see a return of the sporty compact coupe. Including hybrid energy this time round will reduce emissions too, which many patrons need, even when it means it will not be the sportiest automobile within the Honda lineup.
“Right now, we don’t have any coupes in our U.S. lineup, as Civic patrons trended extra towards the hatch model, and that might create some white house for Prelude sooner or later if we see sufficient demand for this sporty coupe right here,” Martin later stated in an e mail.
Will we see different nameplates return? It’s not clear fairly but, however I believe a boxy EV crossover the place you possibly can hose out the ground could possibly be a enjoyable use of the title Factor. One factor’s for certain although—it feels like Honda actually does see the return of the Prelude in our future.