No. Honda stopped producing the Prelude after the 2001 model year, and as of 2026 there is no current Prelude in Honda’s lineup. The nameplate has not been revived since its discontinuation.
The Honda Prelude was historically a two-door sports coupe that spanned five generations from its introduction in 1978. This article examines why the model was phased out, how its production unfolded over the years, and what options exist today for enthusiasts seeking a Prelude-like experience.
History and current status
To understand where the Prelude fits in Honda’s history, it helps to outline its production timeline and the market changes that followed its final year on the road.
Five generations at a glance
Below is a concise timeline of the Prelude’s five generations and their years of production:
- First generation: 1978–1982
- Second generation: 1983–1987
- Third generation: 1988–1991
- Fourth generation: 1992–1996
- Fifth generation: 1997–2001
These generations illustrate how Honda experimented with progressions in design and technology before ultimately ending the model line after the 2001 season. Since then, the Prelude name has not reappeared in Honda’s passenger-car lineup.
Why Honda discontinued the Prelude
Understanding the discontinuation requires a look at the broader market and corporate strategy shifts that affected niche sports coupes in the United States and other regions.
- Shifting consumer demand away from two-door sports coupes toward SUVs and crossovers
- High development and production costs relative to the return on investment for a specialized niche model
- Reallocation of resources to core Honda platforms (such as the Civic, Accord, and Crossovers) and to electrification efforts
- Competition from other brands offering affordable performance coupes and more modern weaponry (turbocharged engines, better fuel economy)
- Strategic decision to focus on models with broader international appeal and future-oriented technology
The culmination of these factors left the Prelude without a clear path forward, and Honda redirected its product portfolio toward more versatile and electrified offerings.
Is there a revival planned?
There have been occasional rumors and fan speculation about a revival, but Honda has not announced any official plan to bring back the Prelude. The company’s current sports-oriented offerings lean on other platforms and models—such as high-performance variants of existing lineups—rather than reintroducing the Prelude as a standalone two-door coupe. In the meantime, buyers seeking a Prelude-like experience typically look at older Prelude models on the used market or explore other sporty Hondas and Acura models from recent years.
For enthusiasts, the absence of a new Prelude means exploring used examples or seeking out similar characteristics in contemporary options from Honda and its luxury-leaning Acura lineup, while recognizing that a direct successor does not exist in Honda’s current lineup.
Summary
In short, Honda does not produce the Prelude today, and there is no confirmed plan to bring it back. The model ran from 1978 to 2001 across five generations, but market shifts and strategic priorities led to its discontinuation nearly a quarter-century ago. While there is no official revival, buyers can still find Prelude models on the used market or explore other sporty options within Honda’s broader lineup for a similar driving experience.