Why did Honda stop the Prelude?
Honda discontinued the Prelude, its iconic sports coupe, in 2001 after a successful 22-year production run. The Prelude was a beloved model known for its sleek design, responsive handling, and advanced features, but various factors led to its eventual discontinuation.
Declining Sports Coupe Demand
The primary reason Honda discontinued the Prelude was the declining demand for sports coupes in the United States. As consumer preferences shifted towards larger, more practical vehicles like SUVs and crossovers, the market for compact, two-door sports cars shrank significantly. This trend affected not only the Prelude but also other similar models from competing automakers.
Changing Priorities at Honda
In the early 2000s, Honda began to focus more on developing and expanding its lineup of sedans, SUVs, and minivans, which were better aligned with the changing market demands. The company decided to allocate its resources towards these more popular and profitable vehicle segments, rather than continuing to invest in the niche sports coupe market.
Increased Competition
The sports coupe market also became increasingly competitive, with models like the Acura RSX, Nissan 350Z, and Toyota Celica offering similar or better performance and features compared to the Prelude. Honda likely determined that the Prelude could not maintain a strong enough competitive edge in this crowded segment.
Conclusion
In the end, the combination of declining sports coupe demand, Honda's shifting priorities, and increased competition from rival models led to the discontinuation of the beloved Prelude. While enthusiasts still fondly remember the Prelude's impressive driving dynamics and innovative features, the market realities of the time ultimately sealed its fate.
Will Honda ever make the Prelude again?
Honda Confirms the New Prelude is Coming to America 2026
It's official! Honda has confirmed that the 2026 Prelude is coming to America, and the news is nothing short of spectacular!
What replaced Prelude?
The Prelude's manufacture concluded in 2001 on introduction of the fourth-generation Integra. The Prelude name was originally trademarked by Toyota, but was amicably given to Honda for use.
Is Honda reintroducing the Prelude?
Honda Confirms the New Prelude is Coming to America 2026.
Why was Prelude discontinued?
In 2012, we launched Prelude as a dedicated video pre-production tool to prepare media for editorial in Premiere Pro. However, due to the changing needs of video professionals and content creators, we have discontinued Prelude.
