THE Prelude is making a return to the Honda stable as an e:HEV hybrid sports coupe.

The modal has an advanced hybrid powertrain and the innovative Honda S+ Shift which simulates the sound, feel and driver engagement of quick automatic gear changes.

Returning after 25 years away, the sixth-generation model's exterior design is inspired by gliders, and Honda says it handling and dynamics is reminiscent of an acrobatic flight.

This has been made possible thanks to the vehicle's wide, low stance, which is complimented by suspension technology from the Civic Type R, plus adaptive dampers and the latest iteration of Honda's Agile Handling Assist.

This approach extends to the interior, which echoes that of a glider's cockpit with the driver-assistance safety system, Honda SENSING.

Hans de Jaeger, senior vice president, Honda Motor Europe, said: "The Honda Prelude's return has been eagerly anticipated by driving enthusiasts around the world since we first exhibited the concept model back in October 2023.

"This nameplate has always been a showcase for cutting-edge and innovative engineering, and this latest iteration is no exception. With its graceful design, innovative Honda S+ Shift and cutting edge full-hybrid powertrain, both drivers and passengers will never want their journey to end."

The Honda S+ Shift is the latest development of Honda's Linear Shift Control and the system works in combination with Active Sound Control to correlate engine sound, revs and road speed for a more natural feel when accelerating.

The technology has evolved to create a virtual eight-speed transmission controlled via the steering wheel paddles, ordinarily used to control the level of regenerative braking when Honda S+ Shift is not engaged, which allows the driver to shift through the gears as per a manual transmission.

When changing down, drivers will also experience an engine braking effect, providing greater throttle control and a rev-matching throttle ‘blip' to match.

The Prelude features Honda's full hybrid e:HEV powertrain which pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with the company's lightweight dual electric motor automatic transmission to develop 184ps.

There is also an array of drive modes to choose from, which can be used to seamlessly switch between four options at the touch of a button - ‘Comfort', ‘GT', ‘Sport', and ‘Individual' - each of which fine-tunes the characteristics of the hybrid powertrain, suspension and steering response to suit the driver's needs.

The new Prelude features suspension technology from the Civic Type R and has been engineered to provide a balance of agile handling and comfort with adaptive dampers and the latest generation of Honda's AHA.

A customisable 10.2-inch driver display that features special Prelude graphics and coloured themes tailored to each drive mode is paired with Honda's responsive nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay, with wireless connectivity, and Android Auto, alongside an eight-speaker audio system jointly developed with Bose.

Alongside a large hatchback tailgate opens to reveal up to 663-litres of luggage space while the latest Honda SENSING system includes adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation system and lane keeping assist system.

Prices and further specifications are still to be announced.