What year did Preludes have 4WS?
The Prelude offered four-wheel steering from 1988 through 1991 in many markets, a brief period in the model’s history. It was not a long-running feature across later generations.
The question concerns a notable handling option that Honda briefly equipped on the Prelude. 4WS refers to a rear-wheel steering system intended to improve maneuverability at low speeds and stability at higher speeds. Availability varied by year and market, and the option was dropped after the early 1990s.
Timeline and availability
Key years and scope of 4WS availability are summarized below.
- Model years: 1988–1991, with 4WS offered on select Prelude trims during this period.
- Market scope: Primarily seen in the United States, with variation by region and trim level in other markets.
- System purpose: A rear-steering mechanism designed to reduce turning radius and improve high-speed stability by coordinating rear-wheel angle with the front wheels.
- Discontinuation: The 4WS option was not carried forward into later Prelude generations, effectively ending after the early 1990s.
In practice, 4WS on the Prelude represented a brief era of advanced handling technology in a mainstream sport coupe, reflecting automotive trends of the time toward enhanced dynamic capability without adopting full four-wheel drive.
How 4WS worked on the Prelude
The Prelude’s 4WS system coordinated rear-wheel steering with the front wheels. At low speeds, the rear wheels tended to steer in a direction opposite to the fronts to shorten the turning circle and ease parking or tight turns. At higher speeds, the system could steer the rear wheels in the same direction as the fronts to aid stability and steering feel. The feature required additional hardware and control logic, which contributed to its limited production window.
Historical context
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, several automakers experimented with four-wheel steering as a way to improve handling without sacrificing interior space or fuel economy. Honda’s implementation on the Prelude stands as a notable example of this era’s engineering experimentation. Today, 4WS Prelude examples are relatively rare, and the technology has largely been retired in favor of modern electronic stability systems and advanced chassis tuning.
Summary
The Honda Prelude offered four-wheel steering for model years 1988 through 1991, primarily in the U.S. market and on select trims. The system aimed to improve maneuverability at low speeds and stability at higher speeds by coordinating rear-wheel steering with the front wheels. It was a short-lived feature in the Prelude’s history and was not carried into later generations.
