The short answer is no. The Honda Prelude was never produced as a rear-wheel-drive car; all generations used a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. Some models did feature four-wheel steering to aid handling, but this did not alter the fundamental drivetrain.
The Prelude was manufactured from 1978 to 2001, spanning five generations. It established itself as Honda’s sporty compact coupé, focused on front-wheel-drive dynamics rather than a rear-wheel-drive configuration.
Drivetrain and layout
Across its entire production run, the Prelude employed a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FF) layout. A notable technology on several trims was Honda’s four-wheel steering (4WS), which could improve low-speed maneuverability and high-speed stability, but it did not introduce or imply a rear-wheel-drive setup.
Five generations at a glance
Here is a concise timeline of the Prelude’s five generations, all of which used front-wheel drive.
- Gen 1 (1978–1982)
- Gen 2 (1983–1987)
- Gen 3 (1988–1991)
- Gen 4 (1992–1996)
- Gen 5 (1997–2001)
In short, across all generations Honda did not offer a factory rear-wheel-drive Prelude. The evolution focused on styling, chassis refinement, and performance within the FF layout.
Myth vs. reality: RWD rumors and clarifications
There are occasional rumors about a Rear-Wheel-Drive Prelude, but none were produced by Honda. Some models offered four-wheel steering (4WS) as a handling enhancement, which is a steering system feature, not a drivetrain switch. There were no official AWD or RWD Prelude variants released to markets.
Conclusion
The Honda Prelude remained a front-engine, front-wheel-drive sport coupe throughout its lifespan. While its handling was enhanced by technologies like four-wheel steering, there was never a production rear-wheel-drive Prelude.
Summary
Was the Prelude ever RWD? No. It remained FF across all five generations (1978–2001). If you’re seeking a Honda with rear-wheel drive, your best bets are models like the NSX or, in some contexts, the S2000 (for sports cars), but the Prelude itself did not venture into RWD territory.