Eye-popping new Japanese sports car spotted: Upcoming Honda Prelude sports car will look like its sleek concept as hybrid Hyundai i30 sedan N rival spotted testing in Germany: Report

There’s good news and bad news if you were interested in the idea of the Honda Prelude sports car revival.

The good news is the 2026 Honda Prelude has been spotted testing in Germany looking an awful lot like the sleek concept car that was shown off a few months ago at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Small tweaks will be made for the road, including larger mirrors and a lightly restyled front bumper, but the camouflaged spy shots being circulated in Europe appear to match the styling seen on the concept car from this year.

Even better is right-hand drive production is on the cards, which makes it a strong starter for Australia. 

Reports from overseas also confirm some details that might quell the excitement of enthusiasts.

The hybrid coupe sports car is set to launch around the middle of the decade in the UK according to Autocar, as previously reported, but Honda’s Chief Operating Officer Shinji Aoyama told US outlet MotorTrend this year the Prelude wouldn’t be available in manual.

Given the hybrid drivetrain could be related to the one available in the Civic e:HEV, which makes 135kW and 315Nm in its current form, it’s unlikely Honda would have bothered to engineer a gearbox to work with the engine just for the Prelude.

Honda Prelude concept

If the Prelude does lean heavily on the Civic for its chassis and drivetrain, it’s unlikely to turn out a boring car given the Civic e:HEV has been rather well received by reviewers. That, and Honda’s engineers have a solid recent history of making even relatively pedestrian models drive rather well.

Currently, the Honda UK’s website features a page for expressions of interest with a quote from Tomoyuki Yamagami, Honda Chief Engineer and Large Project Leader:

“The new Prelude not only marks the latest chapter in our ever-evolving hybrid story, it is also the product of 25-years of pioneering hybrid research and development,” Yamagami said.

“Ensuring this model maintains its ‘sporty’ DNA by perfectly blending the efficiency and environmental advantages of electrified driving with an exhilarating experience behind the wheel.”