A Legend’s Modest Start
Deliveries of the new Honda Prelude have officially begun in the US, marking the return of a name that has sparked considerable debate. Despite the hype, the start has been quite modest. In the first full month of sales nationwide, only 174 cars were sold.
Company Goals and Future Plans
The company has already shared its initial sales expectations for the revived coupe. If all goes according to plan, the Prelude could even surpass the Subaru BRZ in popularity. During a press briefing, Honda’s representative, Vice President of Automobile Sales Lance Woelfer, stated that the company aims to reach a level of 300 Preludes sold per month. He noted that about 4,000 units are allocated annually for the US, but this number could increase if demand for the new sporty coupe proves stronger than expected.
The company aims to reach a level of 300 Preludes sold per month.
It is clear that a niche car like the Prelude would never sell in large volumes, but achieving Honda’s goals would place it roughly on par with some competitors. For example, Subaru sold 2,882 BRZs last year, which costs almost $10,000 less than the Prelude.
Competitive Environment and Price Parallels
In terms of price, but certainly not performance, the 400-horsepower Nissan Z is an attractive Japanese two-door alternative to the Prelude. It starts at $42,970, which is only $970 more expensive than the Honda, and 5,487 units were sold last year. This allowed it to easily outpace the more expensive Toyota Supra, which sold only 2,953 units.
Factors Influencing Sales
December was the first full month of Prelude sales in the US, so it is still too early to say whether the car is already falling short of expectations or meeting them. There are suspicions that sales have been somewhat limited so far due to significant markups set by some dealerships. If dealers start selling the Prelude at the suggested retail price, sales could increase. At the beginning of the month, even one dealer was found offering the Prelude below the starting price.
The Coupe’s Heart: Hybrid Powertrain
The Prelude is powered by the same powertrain as the Civic Hybrid, including a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 141 hp and 134 lb-ft (182 Nm) of torque, as well as an electric motor producing 181 hp and 232 lb-ft (315 Nm) of torque. The combined output is 200 hp and 232 lb-ft (315 Nm) of torque. This is obviously significantly less than the Supra and Z, and also less than the 228 hp of the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86 twins. The Prelude benefits from torque, as the BRZ and GR86 are limited to only 184 lb-ft.
The Prelude’s return is happening in a different automotive world than the one it left. The sports coupe market has become significantly smaller and more competitive, focused on pure driving emotion or, as in Honda’s case, technological efficiency. The model’s success will depend not only on nostalgia but also on how well it can convince buyers of its relevance as a modern hybrid with a sporty character. The dynamics of the first months of sales certainly raise questions, but the allocation of 4,000 cars per year for the US market indicates Honda’s cautious optimism about finding its stable niche alongside models like the BRZ.