We kick-start our report from the ongoing Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show 2026 (KLIMS 2026) with Honda Malaysia, which just launched its much-anticipated hybrid sports coupe, the 2026 Honda Prelude.
Previewed and teased several times prior to its eventual debut, the new Prelude retails at RM278,000 on-the-road (OTR) sans insurance, making it cheaper than Honda’s flagship performance model, the FL5-gen Honda Civic Type R.
Said price is also inclusive of a standard 5-year unlimited mileage vehicle warranty, a separate 10-year unlimited mileage warranty for the battery and other related hybrid components, as well as five times free labour service within five years or 100,000 km.
First Honda Model to Feature S+ Shift System
As detailed prior, the new Prelude is powered by Honda’s proprietary Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid powertrain—the same found on the Civic e:HEV RS—featuring a 2.0-litre 4-cyl naturally-aspirated Atkinson cycle petrol engine rated at 141 PS and 182 Nm.
Said engine is then mated to an electric motor that drives the front wheels (FWD), providing an extra 184 PS and 315 Nm to this hybrid coupe. Combined, the whole i-MMD hybrid system delivers 203 PS and 315 Nm, with the engine only clutching in at higher speeds for better efficiency.
What sets the Prelude’s hybrid powertrain apart from the Civic’s is that the coupe features Honda’s innovative S+ Shift technology that integrates with the Active Sound Control to simulate gear shifts of an 8-speed transmission. This system aims to further improve driving precision while providing an extra layer of enjoyment for drivers in this otherwise straightforward hybrid sportscar.
As for the mechanical bits, the Prelude hybrid shares the same dual-axis strut front suspension and adaptive dampers with the Civic Type R FL5, while stopping power is provided by Brembo brakes with their rotors measuring 13.8 inches at the front and 12 inches at the rear.
Sporty Fastback Coupe with 2+2 Seating Configuration
Visually, the new Prelude marks a design departure for Honda, as the new coupe looks rather different than any other Honda model, featuring a very striking fastback coupe bodystyle.
Some key design highlights include sharp LED headlights with C-shaped DRLs, slim vertical grille inserts, a sporty fastback-style roofline, full-width LED taillights with Honda lettering that replaces the bold ‘H’ logo, and 19-inch gloss black alloy rims with blue-hued Brembo callipers.
Not to forget, a total of three exterior colourways are available for the new Prelude, namely Winter Frost Pearl, Rallye Red, and Crystal Black Pearl.
Inside, the new Prelude is dressed with the same front dash setup seen on the Civic, albeit featuring a more striking two-tone blue and white colour scheme. Some interior amenities provided here include:
- 9.0-inch central infotainment screen with Google Built-In system
- 10.2-inch digital TFT metre cluster
- New manual-adjustable ergonomic front seats
- New three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel
- Sport aluminium pedals
- LED ambient lights
- USB-C ports
- 264-litre boot space
- Honda Sensing ADAS suite
