After Honda announced that the Prelude nameplate was going to be revived, naturally, the next question was if a Type R, performance configuration would be produced alongside it. The team behind the Prelude has been coy about the possibility, and signs of a Prelude Type R generally do not point towards reality. Case in point: The S+ Shift gearbox is in place, and not a six-speed manual.
However, perhaps the spirit of a Type R vehicle can be passed to the next-generation Prelude. It was confirmed that the upcoming coupe will adopt the FL5’s dual-axis front suspension, making it the first non-Type R Honda to make use of this system. Separating the knuckles from the dampers, it is designed to increase axis flexibility to counteract torque steering.
The Prelude will also make use of the Civic Type R’s front Brembo brakes. Honda then mentioned that both the suspension and brake systems will be specifically tuned for the car.
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While we haven’t tried out the S+ Shift technology ourselves, Greg Potts from TopGear.com, explained that while the Prelude is not a track star, it is a step above a standard Civic, “We weren’t able to test the ride quality on the smooth surface at Thruxton, but through bends, the Prelude seems to allow a little bit of body roll in Comfort while being more taut in Sport mode. Even that doesn’t feel as harsh as the softer settings in a Type R, though. The steering also weights up nicely as you move up into the GT and Sport modes.”
With a powertrain similar to the electrified Civic RS e:HEV, we can expect a dynamic and efficient driving experience with the Prelude. And perhaps just the tiniest bit more oomph.
