Will the new Honda Prelude be RWD?
There is no official confirmation of a new Honda Prelude, and Honda has not disclosed any drivetrain details if one is planned. As of late 2025, a rear-wheel-drive configuration for a revived Prelude has not been announced and remains speculative.
Background: the Prelude’s history and what it implies
The Honda Prelude was a two-door sporty coupe sold from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. All generations used front-engine, front-wheel drive layouts, with some variants offering four-wheel steering but not AWD. The series built a reputation for sharp handling and a lightweight, affordable sports niche, but it did not use a traditional rear-wheel-drive setup. That history shapes how a hypothetical revival would be perceived by buyers and critics.
Current status and rumors
Automotive outlets and fans have floated various rumors about a revival, sometimes with sketches or speculative platform ideas. Honda has not publicly confirmed any plan for a new Prelude, nor disclosed the intended drivetrain. The company’s modern lineup centers on the Civic-based Type R (front-wheel drive) and the NSX (hybrid/all-wheel-drive), with no official signal of a two-door Prelude joining the lineup.
Hypothetical drivetrain directions for a revival
Should Honda decide to revive the Prelude, several drivetrain routes would be plausible, depending on engineering goals, cost, and market demand:
- Front-wheel-drive platform married to performance tuning, light-weight construction, and sport suspension (the least risky option given current tooling).
- Front-mid or mid-engine configuration with front-wheel drive, offering balanced handling while leveraging a new architecture.
- Rear-wheel-drive layout on a dedicated sport platform, aimed at competing with small RWD coupes in the class.
- All-wheel-drive arrangement with an electric or hybrid assist to deliver traction across conditions while preserving sporty dynamics.
These are speculative scenarios; Honda has not announced any plan for a Prelude revival, and the actual drivetrain would depend on cost, platform strategy, and market feedback.
What would influence Honda’s decision?
Several factors would determine whether Honda would bring back the Prelude and what drivetrain it would use:
- Market demand for a two-door sport coupe in Honda’s lineup
- Cost of developing a new platform versus leveraging an existing one
- Competitive landscape and the need to offer a distinct proposition in the segment
- Regulatory and efficiency targets for powertrains in key markets
- Brand identity alignment with the Civic Type R and NSX philosophy
Even with favorable signals, the decision would hinge on a full business case; at present, there is no official confirmation of a Prelude revival or its drivetrain.
Summary
The possibility of a new Honda Prelude remains unconfirmed. Historically a front-wheel-drive two-door coupe, the Prelude’s revival would face choices about architecture, including the feasibility of a rear-wheel-drive configuration. As of late 2025, Honda has not announced such a model, and observers should await any official statements from the company while noting the strong appetite among enthusiasts for a modern interpretation of the Prelude’s sporting ethos.
