HONDA PRELUDE CONCEPT MAKES SUPRISE NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT

• Just weeks after its global debut at the Japan Mobility Show (JMS), the hybrid-electric Prelude Concept makes appearance at LA Auto Show
• First introduced in November 1978, the Prelude nameplate has long attracted enthusiasts with its sporty looks and performance
• Prelude Concept designed to advance the “joy of driving” into the electrified future

The hybrid-electric Honda Prelude Concept made its North American debut today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, demonstrating Honda’s commitment to offering exhilarating products moving into the electrified future.

With an iconic nameplate that symbolizes the importance of its role in the Honda electrification strategy, the star of the recent Japan Mobility Show represents a prelude for future electrified Honda models created to advance the joy of driving.

“We expect hybrid-electric models to represent more than one-third of Honda vehicle sales in Canada in 2024 as we continue to progress rapidly towards electrification,” said Steve Hui, Assistant Vice President, Honda Canada. “The new Prelude Concept is a storied nameplate that elicits feelings of positivity and nostalgia, this hybrid-electric concept is in step with our electrification strategy and is an embodiment of the ‘Joy of Driving’ we engineer into all our vehicles.”

The sleek two-door coupe makes its North American debut 45 years after the first-generation Prelude entered production in November 1978. A favourite of automotive enthusiasts, the sports coupe remained in the Honda lineup for five-generations through the 2001 model year.

The Prelude Concept is displayed at the LA Auto Show through Nov. 26, alongside the 2024 Honda Prologue, the first all-electric Honda SUV. The Prologue will begin arriving at Honda dealers early next year.

Honda Electrification Strategy
Toward its global goal to achieve carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050, Honda has a vision to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of its new vehicle sales by 2040.

Hybrid-electric vehicles are a key step in this Honda electrification strategy, which includes equipping its core models with hybrid-electric systems. Honda has achieved record electrified sales in North America in 2023, which now represents more than a quarter of the brand’s sales.

In Canada, over 40% of sales of the CR-V and Accord were hybrid-electric trims in 2023 and almost 35% of Honda's total sales are expected to be electrified models in 2024. Honda will begin sales of a new Civic Hybrid next summer, the sedan will be built at Honda of Canada Mfg. in Alliston, Ontario. Honda expects Civic Hybrid sales to represent more than 65% of Civic sales in Canada.

In early 2024, Honda will begin sales of the 2024 Honda Prologue, Honda’s first all-electric SUV. In 2025, a mid- to large-size EV model based on Honda’s own EV architecture will go on sale.

For more information on Honda’s corporate transformation initiatives, including electrification, click here.